University of Massachusets Athletics
LIVE BLOG: Football Vs. Hofstra
November 22, 2008 | Football
Nov. 22, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. -
It's Senior Day at McGuirk Stadium as the UMass Minutemen football team takes on Hofstra in the season finale. With a win, the UMass seniors would set the school record for wins over a four-year career. Today's game is televised live on CN8 with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
Welcome to today's live blog, your source for all the extra info and stats to make your viewing/listening experience complete. Dave Gunn and Jason Yellin from the UMass Media Relations Office will be blogging to you today as the Minutemen look to end the season on a high note.
5:13 p.m.
Coen kneels on it and the clock runs out on this game and this season.
UMass 28
Hofstra 14
Final
With the win, UMass finishes 2008 with a 7-5 record, Hofstra falls to 4-8. Some great UMass careers come to an end today as a lot of seniors are posing for photos together on the field after the teams shake hands.
Well thank you all for reading today's blog. I hope it made your viewing of the CN8 broadcast or listening to the WRNX broadcast better and we'll be blogging to you again at Monday night's men's basketball home opener.
Don't forget, UMass hockey vs. Boston College tonight at the Mullins Center at 7 p.m.
Good night.
5:07 p.m.
With his last carry, Tony Nelson went over 200 yards for the game. The last UMass player to go over 200 was Steve Baylark in 2006 against URI (235).
The Minutemen continue to grind out the clock. 2:05 left with UMass facing 3 and five at the 39.
5:03 p.m.
In his first career start, freshman Tyler Holmes leads all players with 10 tackles.
Shane Viveros just made a nice play to knock away what looked like a TD pass on second down at the 13.
The defense steps up and forces another Benjamin fumble that went out the back of the end zone for a touchback and UMass takes over with under four minutes left.
5:00 p.m.
UMass is forced to punt and Hofstra takes over at the UMass 46 with 6:35 left and down two touchdowns.
4:50 p.m.
Tony Nelson bursts through the line and blazes down the left side for a 61-yard run before being caught at the one-yard line. Coen hits Zardas for a one-yard TD pass and UMass takes advantage of the turnover.
UMass 28
Hofstra 14
Nelson had a 64-yarder in the opener against Albany this season. Coen's TD pass was the 90th of his career, moving him up to 14th on the all-time FCS list.
4:45 p.m.
A big swing of momentum ... With Hofstra at the UMass 13-yd line, Benjamin fumbled at it was recovered by Jeromy Miles and returned one yard. UMass takes over at its 14 with 12:49 left.
4:40 p.m.
Third quarter ends with the Flying Dutchmen... I mean Pride, driving down the field.
UMass 21
Hofstra 14
end of 3rd
4:38 p.m.
Today's attendance, obviously hurt by the temperature, has been announced at 5,108. That gives UMass a season average of 12,383. That is the highest average attendance at McGuirk since 1999, when the school record of 14,684 was set.
4:30 p.m.
Arnold's last punt ups his season average to 45.4, which would move him to number one in the country and keep him in the lead for the UMass single-season record of 43.3 held by Andrew Maclay. Arnold's career average now sits at 41.4, Christian Koegel currently holds the school record of 40.9.
On fourth and five at its own seven, Hofstra fakes a punt and runs it 20 yards for a first down. It is definitely the last game of the season as both teams are going for broke.
4:25 p.m.
UMass is forced to punt and Brett Arnold booms one 64 yards (with the wind) and the coverage team downs it at the two-yard line.
4:20 p.m.
Hofstra takes the opening kickoff of the second half and drives down the field but Roger Williams' 32-yard FG attempt is missed wide right and UMass takes over.
Tony Nelson is having quite a game. At halftime, he had 111 yards on 16 carries and two TD's. Coen was very accurate in th half, completing 9-of-11, but did throw one pick.
3:50 p.m.
Two plays after going off with an injury, George Byrd intercepts Propst's pass for the first pick of his career.
UMass takes over at its own 49 with 11 seconds left...
...Coen completes to Julian Talley for nine yards, but the clock runs out.
UMass 21
Hofstra 14
Halftime
3:45 p.m.
With 1:11 left in the half and facing fourth and four at the Pride 25, UMass calls its last timeout.
Cuko comes in to attempt a 42-yard field goal, but the Minutemen fake it and holder Scott Woodward is tackled short of the first down. Hofstra takes over at its own 26 with 1:06 left.
3:42 p.m.
The entire field is now in shadows and the temperature is dropping. Players on both sidelines are huddled close together.
As I was typing that, Coen threw an interception to Ray McDonough at the Hofstra 36. It is Coen's ninth int. in the last three games.
...and I was typing that note, Tyler Holmes, in his first career start for UMass, makes his first career interception and returns it seven yards to the Hofstra 31.
At least the offenses and defenses can keep warm by running on and off the field.
3:35 p.m.
A two-yard run by Tony Nelson gives him 101 for the game today. It's the sixth time he has gone over 100 this season and seventh time in his career.
3:32 p.m.
Sean Calicchio was injured on first down at the UMass 34. He was looked at by athletic trainers Jen Brodeur and Bob Kuzmeski before being helped off the field by Ben Coblyn.
Brian Ostaszewski enters the game in his place.
3:25 p.m.
On fourth and four at the UMass 29, Steve Propst found Brock Jackolski on the flat to keep the drive alive.
From the two-yard line, Propst kept it himself on an option play and ran it in for the score, his first career TD.
UMass 21
Hofstra 14
7:20 2nd
3:18 p.m.
While Hofstra is driving with a first down at the UMass 35, I'd like to take this chance to wish happy birthdays to two of the best UMass fans out there, Terry Letourneau on Wednesday and Paul Letourneau on Thanksgiving.
3:15 p.m.
UMass leads in total yards, 154-66. Nelson has 91 yards on 10 carries in the first quarter.
3:12 p.m.
UMass comes right back by Nelson and Zardas leading the team down the field. A Liam Coen to Ian Jorgensen TD pass finished off the drive. It was Jorgensen's 10th career TD catch on his 36th rececption. He scores a TD on 28% of his catches.
UMass 21
Hofstra 7
end of the 1st
3:02 p.m.
Hofstra goes 66 yards on eight plays over 4:54, capped off by an 11 yard TD run by Everette Benjamin to get the Pride on the board.
UMass 14
Hofstra 7
2:52 p.m.
Hofstra fumbled on its first set of downs. Darnell Delaire recovered the fumble for UMass and he then fumbled before Shane Viveros recovered it again. Tony Nelson ran the ball in again for his second of the game and 12th of the season. That ties him for 12th on the UMass single season list with Marcel Shipp (2000) and UMass Hall of Famer Lou Bush (1931). Bush's mark was the school record until 1972. This is also Nelson's fifth career 2-TD game.
2:48 p.m.
Chris Zardas busted one for 21 yards to take it down to the one-yard line. Nelson plunged in from there for his 11th TD of the year. Armando Cuko's extra point into the wind is good.
UMass 7
Hofstra 0
2:41 p.m.
UMass starts the game with four-straight Tony Nelson runs. After a seven-yard Liam Coen to Victor Cruz pass, Nelson rumbled for 17 yards to give UMass a first down at the Hofstra 29.
2:35 p.m.
Senior Day ceremonies were just held on the field. The UMass Band came out first and honored its seniors before performing the National Anthem. Then the Minutemen took the field and its 18 seniors and their families were recognized out on the field.
Hofstra won the toss and chose to defer. UMass will receive and defend the south end zone. That means the Minutemen will be fighting the strong north wind in the first quarter.
2:18 p.m.
The game has gone final at Rudd Field. Harvard scored 2:33 into the second overtime to end UMass' season, 1-0, in the NCAA first round.
2:15 p.m.
PREGAME NOTES
Hofstra at UMass
Nov. 22, 2008
WEATHER:
Cloudy, 27 degrees, Winds 13-26 MPH out of NW. Wind chill makes it feel like 15
degrees.
TWO DEEP CHANGES:
Hofstra reports no changes to its depth chart
UMass
RG 71 Rob Getek (neck) is out, 63 Sean Calicchio is expected to move
over from RT to start at RG
77 Ben Coblyn (back) may now play in the game, if he does he may start at RT where 63 Calicchio was to start, should he not play 67 Brian Ostaszewski will start. This is gametime decision.
DE 46 Michael Hanson (quad) is not expected to play. 93 Bob McLaughlin will start in his pace.
MLB 2 Josh Jennings (back) is out, 59 Tyler Holmes will draw his first- career start.
1:42 p.m.
In other CAA action today:
UNH 14, Maine 10, halftime
Richmond 20, William & Mary 0, halftime
Northeastern 7, URI 0, 1:00 left in 1st
JMU 13, Towson 7, 5:53 left in 1st
Villanova @ Delaware 2:30 p.m.
1:37 p.m.
Men's soccer's NCAA first round match against Harvard is being played just down the street at Rudd Field. The Minutemen and Crimson are scoreless with about eight minutes left, but from the sound of Adam Frenier's call of the game on All-Access, UMass is getting all the scoring opportunities.
1:00 p.m.
Well it is downright cold here in Amherst today. Weather.com tells me it is currently 27 degrees with a windchill of 15 degrees. The wind is blowing hard, 13 mph and gusting to 26 mph. On the bright side, it is mostly sunny (pun intended).
A few kickers and long snappers are loosening up on the field right now. Everyone is is taking refuge in the warmth of the locker rooms as we are still an hour and a half until kickoff.
