ORONO – Like the thousands of fans who made a hasty exit from Alfond Stadium, the University of Maine football team realized it was in serious trouble during the second half of Saturday afternoon’s Atlantic 10 game against Hofstra.

Trailing by 17 points midway through the third quarter, the sixth-ranked Black Bears refused to allow the rain, wind, and cold to dampen their hopes for Homecoming happiness.

UMaine made three interceptions in a span of four minutes and the hosts cashed in for 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to pull out an improbable 24-17 victory over Hofstra on Morse Field.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said UMaine senior quarterback Jake Eaton said of the Bears’ comeback.

“I’ve never seen a whole team together play with as much heart and character [as] today,” he added. “We knew we were going to get something going, we just needed that big play.”

While only 400 or so of the 6,753 fans who had tickets for the game remained at its conclusion, the Bears rewarded them with a gritty and resilient performance.

“When I came out at halftime I said, ‘Where did everybody go?'” Cosgrove chuckled. “I said to myself, ‘I probably would have gone, too, the way we were playing.'”

UMaine, now 8-1 overall, 5-1 in league play, posted its 11th consecutive victory in Orono.

With the offense bogged down, UMaine’s defense spearheaded the rally. The Bears afforded the Pride (2-6, 2-5 A-10) only 219 total yards, and did so without injured senior captains Stephen Cooper (ankle) and Brendan Curry (knee).

“They’re a group of guys that have a tremendous amount of courage and heart and fortitude and drive,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine had fumbled to set up Hofstra’s first two scores, then failed on a fourth-and-1 from its own 43-yard line, leading to the Pride’s second TD – all during a 91/2-minute span of the second quarter.

“The reason we won the football game was because our defense got turnovers for us in the fourth quarter,” Cosgrove said. “I thought we had a chance because of the way the defense was playing.”

No play was bigger than cornerback Jarrod Gomes’ interception and 27-yard return that gave UMaine, trailing 17-3, the ball on the Hofstra 20-yard line with 10:59 remaining.

Five plays later, John Gelsomino scored from 5 yards out as the Bears trimmed the deficit to 17-10 with 8:07 left.

“It’s not like you’re going to hang your head, but you’re starting to wonder, ‘What do we have to do to get this in the end zone?’ ” Cosgrove said. “I think that interception kind of was the spark.”

The Bears, who managed only 205 yards themselves, seized the moment. On the Pride’s next play, defensive end Brian Mann made a one-handed interception of a Ryan Cosentino pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

“I saw the quarterback starting to back up and I knew it was a screen, then I just stepped around the running back and it was right in front of me,” said Mann, who was aided by blitzing linebackers Rob Kierstead of South Portland and Agean Robinson.

Mike Mellow’s low PAT kick was blocked, leaving Hofstra on top 17-16 with 7:50 to play.

UMaine got the ball back two plays later. This time, end Marcus Walton hit Hofstra QB Andrew English during his throwing motion and Kierstead alertly made a superb diving interception at English’s feet, at the H-28.

“I was covering the back and then the ball just seemed to float up there,” Kierstead said. “That was just the greatest feeling ever.”

The Bears moved 28 yards in six plays with Christian Pereira turning a short pass from Eaton into an 11-yard TD play to give UMaine the lead with 3:29 remaining.

“In the fourth quarter, everyone knew it was time to put up or shut up and we came through,” Pereira said.

“No one gets down on each other,” said senior safety Dave Cusano, who made nine tackles. “Even when it’s 17-0, we’re still thinking, ‘We’re going to win this game.'”

Hofstra threatened on its ensuing possession, marching to the M-43. However, Dan Joslyn’s sack of English resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Dennis Dottin-Carter with 58 seconds left.

“I don’t know how to coach giving up the ball like we did,” said Hofstra coach Joe Gardi. “I think we beat ourselves.”

Cosgrove lauded the efforts of defensive coordinator Rich Nagy, who implemented a new defense that featured only three down linemen and added a defensive back to contend with Hofstra’s run-and-shoot offense.

Strong safety Brandon McGowan paced the Bears with 11 tackles. Renauld Williams made 15 for the Pride.

BLACK BEARS 24, PRIDE 17

Hofstra (2-6) 0 17 0 0 ? 17

Maine (8-1) 0 0 3 21 ? 24

H ? Onorato 19 field goal

H ? Kinsley 35 fumble return (Onorato kick)

H ? Ellis 6 pass from English (Onorato kick)

M ? Mellow 28 field goal

M ? Gelsomino 5 run (Mellow kick)

M ? Mann 27 interception return (kick blocked)

M ? Pereira 11 pass from Eaton (Eaton pass to McMahan)

Hofstra Maine

First downs 11 11

Rushing att.-yards 37-133 47-93

Passing comp.-att. 9-24 11-21

Passing yards 86 112

Total yards 219 205

Punts-avg. 7-35.9 8-32.8

Fumbles-lost 4-1 4-3

Intercepted by 0 4

Penalties-yards 5-45 3-27

Rushing

Hofstra: Bukula 21-78, Dimmie 6-58, Perry 3-21, Cosentino 2-7, Team 1-(-12), English 4-(-19); Maine: Williams 17-62, Gelsomino 6-29, Henry 6-14, Zyskowski 1-3, Team 1-1, Legree 1-(-1), Eaton 15-(-15)

Passing

Hofstra: English 8-20-3-86, Cosentino 1-4-1-0; Maine: Eaton 11-21-0-112

Receiving

Hofstra: Irby 4-36, Perry 2-35, Ellis 2-15, Dimmie 1-0; Maine: Waller 4-35, Pereira 3-30, McMahan 2-23, Gelsomino 1-17, Williams 1-7

A?6,753