Quarterback Cory Christopher threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Dave Wilson caught two touchdown passes as Hofstra defeated James Madison 24-17 in Colonial Athletic Association football Saturday.
Hofstra led 21-10 at halftime and limited JMU to 192 yards of total offense while improving to 3-2 overall and to 1-1 in the CAA.
JMU fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the CAA.
The game was delayed because of lightning for 47 minutes at 4:07 p.m. with 1:23 left in the first half.
Christopher scored on 17-yard run to give Hofstra a 7-0 first-quarter lead and hit Wilson on a four-yard touchdown pass five seconds before halftime for the Pride’s 21-10 advantage at the break.
Wilson’s other score came on a 34-yard pass from Steve Probst for a 14-3 Hofstra lead early during the second quarter.
The Pride, after leading by 11 points at halftime, didn’t score again Henry Greco kicked a 42-yard field goal with 2:14 left in the game, but JMU managed only one second-half score.
The Dukes compiled only 77 yards of total offense during the final half but still had a final possession with a chance to at least tie the game. They started from their 28 after Greco’s field goal and advanced to the Hofstra 24 when senior wide receiver Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) pulled in a 35-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) with just more than a minute left on the clock.
However, on first down from the 24, JMU lost 20 yards on a bad snap from center on the following play, threw an incompletion on second down and had an offensive pass interference penalty nullify what would have been a 27-yard completion to the Pride 17 from junior quarterback Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) to McCarter.
The Dukes got a 22-yard completion from Dudzik to McCarter on third down (recovering their own fumble on a hook-and-lateral play) but then threw an incompletion on fourth down.
Hofstra finished with 287 yards of total offense (154 rushing, 133 passing) while JMU ran for 136 yards and threw for 56.
Hofstra had 17 first downs to JMU’s 11, didn’t have a turnover and was penalized only once for 10 yards. JMU threw an interception and lost a fumble and was penalized twice for 20 yards.
The Pride was successful on four of five fourth-down conversion attempts.
JMU returns home next Saturday (Oct. 10) to host Richmond in its Family Weekend game. The game will begin at noon and will be televised Comcast SportsNet.
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