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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
5-6 , 3-5
Hofstra
5-6 , 3-5
UMass Football Falls To Hofstra, 52-38 In Shootout
November 21, 2009 | Football
Nov. 21, 2009
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The UMass football team closed out the 2009 season with a 52-38 shootout loss to Hofstra at Shuart Stadium on a crisp Saturday afternoon. The Minutemen and Pride both finished the season at 5-6 overall, 3-5 in the CAA. The teams combined for 1058 yards of offense (Hofstra - 599 and UMass - 459). In his first college start, quarterback Scott Woodward threw for 277 yards, in his final game. Senior tailback Tony Nelson gained Senior kicker Armando Cuko set the school record for career field goals (31) with a 40-yard kick.
Senior tailback Tony Nelson had 16 rushes for 103 yards and three touchdowns. He finished fifth in career rushing yards (2787), fifth in career rushes (532) and sixth in career rushing touchdowns (25). It was his third straight 100-yard game, fifth this season and 12th of his career. He also tied his career-high with three touchdowns for the second time in three weeks.
Senior receiver Victor Cruz had 11 catches for 155 yards and closed his career fifth in career receiving yards (1958) and fourth in career receptions (131). It was Cruz's sixth-career 100-yard game.
Hofstra gained 599 yards of offense to UMass' 459. Pride starting quarterback Cory Christopher threw for 500 yards on 38-of-50 and 6 touchdowns. Receiver Aaron Weaver had a monster day with 15 receptions for 191 yards.
Hofstra's 500 passing yards set an opponent record against UMass. Its broke the mark of 459 by Buffalo in 1997.
The Pride reeled off 21 points in the final 7:10 of the first half to take a 28-10 lead at halftime and never trailed the rest of the way.
Down 10-7 early in the second quarter, Hofstra scored on its final three drives of the first half to lead 28-10 at intermission. Back-up quarterback Steve Probst entered the game midway in the second quarter and on his first play, rushed up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown with 7:10 left in the first half. Then two minutes later he hit Christian Dennis for a 16-yard touchdown and the 11-point margin. On the final drive of the half, Hofstra moved 85 yards and Christopher ran in from two yards for the 28-10 score.
In the first half Hofstra outgained UMass 353-138 including 309 passing yards (293 by Christopher). In the second quarter alone, Hofstra outgained UMass 236-23 in total yardage.
The Minutemen broke the run of 24 points in a row by the Pride with an 8-yard touchdown rush by Nelson with 7:55 left in the third. That cut the Hofstra lead to 31-17. But the Pride responded with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Nelson, who flipped into the end zone giving Hofstra a 38-17 lead.
UMass quickly answered with two scores in less than five minutes as Chris Zardas bolted in from 1-yard and Woodward bootlegged on a 13-yard rush to cut the Hofstra lead to 38-31 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The Pride came back right away as Christopher connected with Dennis for their second scoring play, this one from 15 yards out, with 12:33 left in the fourth and a 45-31 lead.
With the Woodward-to-Cruz connection clicking, UMass retaliated right away as Nelson scored for the third time on a 3-yard rush with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. On the drive Nelson went over 100 yards rushing and Cruz went over the 100-yard receiving mark.
Hofstra iced the game with 10-yard rush up the middle by Miguel Maysonet with 1:41 left in regulation.
The UMass senior class, featuring 19 players including 14 starters, finished as the fourth-winningest senior class in school history with a 35-16 record over the last four years.
19 seniors played their final UMass game on Saturday were: offensive lineman Jared Chivers, defensive tackle Brandon Collier, wide receiver Victor Cruz, kicker Armando Cuko, defensive back Corey Davis, linebacker Eric Dickson, offensive tackle Vladimir Ducasse, offensive lineman Bryan Fisher, defensive end Michael Hanson, defensive tackle Kyle Harrington, wide receiver Jeremy Horne, safety Jeromy Miles, defensive end Anthony Monette, tailback Tony Nelson, wide receiver Joe Sanford, tight end Matt Silver, quarterback Scott Woodward and fullback Chris Zardas
Team Stats
UMASS 0, HOFSTRA 7
HOFSTRA - A. Weaver 5 yd pass from C. Christopher (H. Greco kick) 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:04
UMASS 7, HOFSTRA 7
UMASS - Tony Nelson 7 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:30
UMASS 10, HOFSTRA 7
UMASS - Armando Cuko 40 yd field goal 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:40
UMASS 10, HOFSTRA 14
HOFSTRA - S. Probst 7 yd run (H. Greco kick), 13 plays, 90 yards, TOP 6:22
UMASS 10, HOFSTRA 21
HOFSTRA - C. Dennis 16 yd pass from S. Probst (H. Greco kick) 2 plays, 58 yards, TOP 0:55
UMASS 10, HOFSTRA 28
HOFSTRA - C. Christopher 2 yd run (H. Greco kick), 11 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:20
UMASS 10, HOFSTRA 31
HOFSTRA - H. Greco 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 31 yards, TOP 0:54
UMASS 17, HOFSTRA 31
UMASS - Tony Nelson 8 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:26
UMASS 17, HOFSTRA 38
HOFSTRA - Ant. Nelson 35 yd pass from C. Christopher (H. Greco kick) 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:57
UMASS 24, HOFSTRA 38
UMASS - Chris Zardas 1 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:25
UMASS 31, HOFSTRA 38
UMASS - Scott Woodward 13 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 8 plays, 92 yards, TOP 2:59
UMASS 31, HOFSTRA 45
HOFSTRA - C. Dennis 15 yd pass from C. Christopher (H. Greco kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:21
UMASS 38, HOFSTRA 45
UMASS - Tony Nelson 3 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 16 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:40
UMASS 38, HOFSTRA 52
HOFSTRA - M. Maysonet 10 yd run (H. Greco kick), 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 5:12
