One week after pulling out a late victory over Charleston Southern on homecoming, the Seawolves went into Conway, South Carolina and ruined the homecoming off Big South foe Coastal Carolina.
Another fourth quarter touchdown pass by Dayne Hoffman helped the Seawolves pull out a tough road victory, 28-24, on Saturday night.
Hoffman had three touchdowns in the game; all caught by senior receiver Dwayne Eley. Hoffman completed 14 of 27 passes for 197 yards on the day. Eley hauled in six of them for 120 yards, including a 61-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The first three Seawolves touchdown drives all came directly after Coastal Carolina fumbles. Coastal Carolina fumbled the opening kickoff setting Stony Brook up with prime field position at its opponent’s 25 yard line.
Senior running back Conte Cuttino finished off the touchdown drive, plunging in from six yards out to put the Seawolves up early. Cuttino had a great day in his own right, running for 136 yards on 23 carries. He also caught two passes for 18 yards.
After Coastal Carolina tied the score on its next drive, the game remained tied into the second quarter. Coastal Carolina put together another drive that was capped with a 30-yard touchdown pass by Carolina quarterback Zach MacDowall.
The Seawolves were forced to punt on its first drive of the second half, but Carolina fumbled the punt and defensive back Chris Richard recovered the ball for Stony Brook at the Carolina 15.
Three plays later Hoffman found Eley in the end zone for a nine yard touchdown to put the Seawolves ahead 14-13.
Carolina answered right back again. MacDowall threw a 20-yard strike to Trent Usher to put Carolina back in front.
Stony Brook went three and out on its next drive, but Carolina once again could not handle the Luke Gaddis punt, and the Seawolves recovered the ball at the Carolina 19.
The Seawolves lost one yard on its first two plays on the drive, but on 3rd and 11 Hoffman once again found Eley for a 31 yard touchdown.
Down 24-21 on its first drive in the fourth quarter, Stony Brook answered quickly for the final score of the day. The Seawolves covered 71 yards on two plays, one of which was a 61-yard completion from Hoffman to Eley.
The Stony Brook defense held strong the remainder of the game, eventually stuffing Carolina on a 4th and one from its own 29.
But Stony Brook was not able to take advantage of this mistake.
After coming to a 3rd-and-goal from the Carolina five, Cuttino fumbled the ball into the end zone, giving Carolina new life.
They were able to drive the ball all the way down to the Stony Brook 35, but once again the turnovers did them in. Cory Giddings recovered the ball for the Seawolves and Stony Brook was able to run the clock out and secure the win, pushing the Seawolves to 2-1 in Big South play.
