2008 Woodie Awards
Football: Happy to upset
Chris Estrada
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports
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At 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the football team has not been a postseason contender for some time. But it has sure been playing like one lately.
Before the team's 31-13 victory over then-No. 8 New Hampshire two weekends ago, Northeastern suffered a string of close defeats. And as the No. 18 Hofstra Pride took a 31-28 lead late in the fourth quarter Saturday, it appeared they'd have to swallow another.
But on a crisp, sunny Senior Day at Parsons Field, the Huskies saved their best for last. Driving 92 yards in 1:51 minutes, junior tailback Alex Broomfield took a handoff from junior quarterback Anthony Orio and floated a nine-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open junior tight end Brian Mandeville with 17 ticks left.
Northeastern 35, Hofstra 31. Two straight weeks, two straight upsets.
"It's a symbol of the grit that our leaders have," said head coach Rocky Hager of his team's late-game heroics. "This year, we had a lot of young guys that needed to learn a bit or else there'd be more marks on the [win] side of the column ... but I'm really proud at how we battled and pushed."
The NU defense also delivered Saturday, sacking Pride quarterback Bryan Savage seven times. Leading the way were junior defensive end Wil Colon (2.5 sacks, six tackles) and senior linebacker Joe Mele (two sacks, nine tackles), who couldn't bear to watch the final drive by his offensive brethren.
"I couldn't handle it," Mele said following his final Parsons outing. "I said all my Hail Marys. But I couldn't do it."
While his and the Huskies' prayers were answered, it was close game. Down 28-24 with 11:22 left, the Pride forced a three-and-out from the NU offense and got the ball back at their own 31. Driving 69 yards in 15 plays, Hofstra drove to the Husky one and took the lead with a fourth-and-goal touchdown by Savage with 2:16 left.
Turns out that was enough time for Orio (19-for-23, 249 yards) and his crew to show how far they've come in the last two weeks.
Before the team's 31-13 victory over then-No. 8 New Hampshire two weekends ago, Northeastern suffered a string of close defeats. And as the No. 18 Hofstra Pride took a 31-28 lead late in the fourth quarter Saturday, it appeared they'd have to swallow another.
But on a crisp, sunny Senior Day at Parsons Field, the Huskies saved their best for last. Driving 92 yards in 1:51 minutes, junior tailback Alex Broomfield took a handoff from junior quarterback Anthony Orio and floated a nine-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open junior tight end Brian Mandeville with 17 ticks left.
Northeastern 35, Hofstra 31. Two straight weeks, two straight upsets.
"It's a symbol of the grit that our leaders have," said head coach Rocky Hager of his team's late-game heroics. "This year, we had a lot of young guys that needed to learn a bit or else there'd be more marks on the [win] side of the column ... but I'm really proud at how we battled and pushed."
The NU defense also delivered Saturday, sacking Pride quarterback Bryan Savage seven times. Leading the way were junior defensive end Wil Colon (2.5 sacks, six tackles) and senior linebacker Joe Mele (two sacks, nine tackles), who couldn't bear to watch the final drive by his offensive brethren.
"I couldn't handle it," Mele said following his final Parsons outing. "I said all my Hail Marys. But I couldn't do it."
While his and the Huskies' prayers were answered, it was close game. Down 28-24 with 11:22 left, the Pride forced a three-and-out from the NU offense and got the ball back at their own 31. Driving 69 yards in 15 plays, Hofstra drove to the Husky one and took the lead with a fourth-and-goal touchdown by Savage with 2:16 left.
Turns out that was enough time for Orio (19-for-23, 249 yards) and his crew to show how far they've come in the last two weeks.
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