Hempstead, N.Y. – David McCarty rushed for 178 yards and scored on a seven-yard run in overtime, as UAlbany upended Hofstra, 22-16, on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Shuart Stadium. The Great Danes ended a nine-game losing streak in the series and won for the first time since 1985.
Hofstra (0-2) rallied from a 16-9 deficit in the fourth quarter behind the running and passing of quarterback Cory Christopher, who connected on 27 of 38 passes for 272 yards and added 44 on the ground. Anthony Nelson hauled in a 17-yard completion before a pass interference call kept the offensive set alive. Freshman Brock Jackolski took an option pitch and reached paydirt from three yards out with 10:34 remaining.
The Pride, who had won 22 of their previous 26 home openers, used 16 plays to drive from their own 15-yard line in an effort to get the winning points. Christopher hit Nelson with a slant pass to the UAlbany 22 to set up a field goal attempt. But free safety Dave Casale came off the right edge to block Brian Hanly’s 34-yard try with nine seconds to play.
“We brought pressure from the middle and right,” said Casale, who added a career-high 13 tackles. “(Daniel) Avery and I are a tag team on that side. Their end went for Avery and I got both hands on the ball.”
In the extra period, Hofstra’s first possession stalled out at the Great Danes’ 13 when Christopher’s pass sailed out of the bounds on third-and-eight. The Pride had a chance when Nguti blocked a 30-yard attempt and Casale tackled holder Shane Casciano, who picked up the loose ball. UAlbany ran McCarty four straight times to the end zone, the last carry a driving run over left guard to the goal line.
UAlbany (1-1) trailed 9-7 at the intermission, but regrouped to take the lead in the third quarter. Christopher, working out of the shotgun, mishandled a snap from center and was covered in the end zone by Chris Blais and Mark Peretore for a safety. The Great Danes then marched 11 plays with the free kick. Quarterback Vinny Esposito completed a third-down throw to the Hofstra 1, before scoring himself over right guard with 2:12 to play in the period.
“I told the team we have four great challenges to begin the season,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team was playing the second of four consecutive Colonial Athletic Association opponents. “This was kind of thrilling. The safety was a key play and then we were fortunate to block two kicks in the game. I think when our offense stepped on the field in overtime they knew they were going to score.”
Hofstra scored on its opening possession when Christopher directed his team on a nine-play march. Atter Jackolski gave his team great field position with a 38-yard kickoff return, Christopher completed three passes, including a 13-yarder to Aaron Weaver for a touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior rolled to his right on fourth down and floated a pass to his wide open receiver in the back of the end zone. However, UAlbany’s Raphael Nguti blocked the extra point attempt.
UAlbany took a 7-6 lead the second time its offense touched the ball. McCarty, who set a school record with his eighth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, moved his team into Pride territory with a 46-yard sweep around left end. Esposito later converted a third-down play with a 10-yard completion to redshirt freshman John Lullen, before scoring on a 1-yard sneak with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
The Pride defense stopped the visitors on a fourth-and-eight at their own 38-yard line when Luke Bonus sacked Esposito. Hofstra’s offensive unit responded with a 10-play scoring sequence, led by Christopher’s five completed passes. His third-down pass to Anthony Nelson kept the drive alive. Hanly’s 25-yard field goal put his team ahead, 9-7.
Hempstead, N.Y., 7:00 p.m. Eastern
RADIO COVERAGE
Fox Sports Radio AM 980 will again air the entire University at Albany football schedule. Rodger Wyland, the sports director at WNYT-TV (NewsChannel 13), serves as the WOFX Radio play-by-play announcer with Jon Phelps working as the color analyst.
2008 SEASON OPENER
The Great Danes and Massachusetts met for the second time on the gridiron in the season opener on Aug. 30. The Great Danes surprised the nation's fifth-ranked team by jumping out to 9-0 lead, but UMass responded with two second-quarter touchdowns. UAlbany closed within 21-16 late in the third quarter, as TB David McCarty scored on a 24-yard scamper. QB Liam Coen led the Minutemen to paydirt on their next possession. He threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a 17-yarder to Jeremy Horne. TB Tony Nelson rushed for 171 yards.
ABOUT UALBANY: The Great Danes won their third Northeast Conference championship in 2007 by becoming the fifth team in league history to go undefeated in conference play. UAlbany (8-4, NEC 6-0) made their fifth appearance in the postseason, losing to No. 24 Dayton, 42-21, in the second annual Gridiron Classic.
Head coach Bob Ford, who has 11 starters returning from last year's squad, is in his 40th season as a collegiate head coach. The Great Danes are led on offense by tailback David McCarty, who rushed for 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. Quarterback Vinny Esposito passed for 1,810 yards and 12 TDs. Offensive tackle Raphael Nguti (6-7, 330) and center Kevin Richards (6-2, 270) are all-conference linemen.
Tom Pandolf, a first-team All-NEC defensive tackle, leads a unit that ranked 17th among the NCAA scoring leaders. Justin Brancaccio (63 tackles) moved into the starting lineup at inside linebacker last year. UAlbany's secondary returns intact. Dave West, an all-league safety, made 60 tackles and had two interceptions.
UALBANY QUICK HITS
... the Great Danes played their third-highest ranked opponent in the season opener vs. No. 5 Massachusetts ...
... three opponents are ranked in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches' nationals polls ... UMass (#4 SN & FCS), Delaware (#6 SN & #7 FCS) and New Hampshire (#15 SN & FCS) are among the top teams ...
... UAlbany played its season opener in August for the first time ...
... the Great Danes played before the fourth-largest crowd in the program's history (15,211) at UMass' McGuirk Alumni Stadium ...
... Bob Ford is in his 40th season as a collegiate head coach and celebrates his 71st birthday on Sept. 11 ...
... the Great Danes are on the road for the opening five games with the home debut scheduled for Oct. 11th ...
... the Great Danes are 3-10 all-time against NCAA Division I FCS top-25 opponents ...
... UAlbany has a 2-10 record against current CAA programs ...
... TB David McCarty rushed for 100 or more yards for the seventh consecutive game to tie a standard set by Gary Jones in 2002 ...
... Hofstra is the second of four consecutive Colonial Athletic Association opponents for the Great Danes ...
... UAlbany has a 3-1 record as a Division I FCS program following a bye week ...
ABOUT HOFSTRA: The Pride were the fifth-most improved Division I FCS team in 2007. Hofstra posted a 7-4 record after going 2-9 the previous season. Head coach Dave Cohen's squad opened with a 35-3 loss to Big East Conference opponent Connecticut, who is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today top-25 polls. Hofstra is picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association's North Division behind Massachusetts and New Hampshire. QB Bryan Savage will miss the season with a herniated disc in his back. Savage (6-2, 223) passed for 2,668 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 10 scores last year after transferring from Coffeyville Community College. Cory Christopher (6-1, 230) took over the reins in the opener. An honorable mention All-American at Nassau Community College, Christopher threw for 1,181 yards and eight TDs in 2006. WR Anthony Nelson set a freshman record with 44 receptions for 543 yards and led the the CAA in punt returns with a 15.6 avearge. Ottis Lewis, a 6-foot-5 senior and one of 32 returning lettermen, had 27 catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Larry Gaskins and New Mexico State transfer Justine Buries are battling for the tailback position. OG David Spanich (6-3, 275) and OT Brian Frederick (6-4, 264) are the top offensive linemen. The Pride led the CAA in rushing defense and was second in total defense one year ago. MLB Luke Bonus, the 2006 conference defensive rookie of the year, has started 22 of 23 games played as a collegian. He had 84 tackles as a sophomore. DB Nick Altomare added 32 tackles. Kevin Smith (6-2, 230) had an impact in his first season at defensive end. He transferred from Western Michigan. Notre Dame transfer Anthony Vernaglia (OLB) recorded an interception against UConn. Hofstra is receiving votes for this week's Sports Network Top 25 and FCS Coaches national polls.
HEAD COACH: Hofstra's Dave Cohen is in his third season as head coach. He has a 9-14 career record. Cohen previously served as Delaware's defensive coordinator for four years. The Blue Hens won the 2003 national championship during that period. Cohen, a UAlbany assistant from 1988-90, was Fordham's associate head coach for three seasons prior to accepting the position at Delaware.
THE SERIES: UAlbany and Hofstra are meeting for the 14th time. The Pride have won 11 of the previous 13 contests, including nine in a row. QB Bryan Savage passed for 262 yards and ran for a pair second-quarter touchdowns in last year's 28-13 win at University Field. Kareem Huggins wiped out a 3-0 deficit with a 98-yard kickoff return. Hofstra was ranked No. 19/20 coming into the contest. QB Anton Clarkson threw for 291 yards and two TDs in a 36-7 Hofstra triumph in 2005.
All-Time Series Record
Sept. 21, 1974: Albany 33, Hofstra 7 (Hofstra Stadium)
Sept. 16, 1983: Hofstra 20, Albany 3 (Hofstra Stadium)
Oct. 27, 1984: Hofstra 35, Albany 32 (Hofstra Stadium)
Nov. 2, 1985: Albany 35, Hofstra 27 (University Field)
Nov. 1, 1986: Hofstra 30, Albany 14 (Hofstra Stadium)
Oct. 30, 1987: Hofstra 24, Albany 13 (University Field)
Oct. 29, 1988: Hofstra 31, Albany 22 (Hofstra Stadium)
Oct. 28, 1989: Hofstra 25, Albany 21 (University Field)
Oct. 27, 1990: Hofstra 65, Albany 7 (Hofstra Stadium)
Nov. 18, 2000: Hofstra 55, Albany 28 (Hofstra Stadium)
Sept. 2, 2004: Hofstra 45, Albany 0 (Shuart Stadium)
Sept. 10, 2005: Hofstra 36, Albany 7 (University Field)
Sept. 15, 2007: Hofstra 28, Albany 13 (University Field)
UALBANY VS. CAA: The Great Danes have a 2-10 all-time record against current Colonial Athletic Association opponents since upgrading to the Division I FCS level in 1999. Hofstra has won all four meetings with UAlbany in that span, while Northeastern owns a pair of victories. The Great Danes defeated Towson (14-10) in 2003 and Delaware (17-10) in 2006. UAlbany will also face New Hampshire (Sept. 20) and FCS national runner-up Delaware (Sept. 27) this season.
OPPONENTS IN POLLS: UAlbany is scheduled against three consensus top-10 Division I FCS teams according to this week's polls. Massachusetts is No. 3 in the Sports Network Top 25 and and No. 5 in FCS Coaches' poll. Delaware (FCS #6 & SN #6) and New Hampshire (#FCS10 & SN #10) are also ranked. UNH defeated Army, 28-10, on Sept. 6. Hofstra is receiving votes in both preseason polls.
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UAlbany
UALbany SEFCU Arena To Host 2009 America East Tournament
Cambridge, Mass. — University at Albany will play host to the 2009 America East Men’s Basketball Championship at the 4,538-seat SEFCU Arena on campus in Albany, N.Y. The decision was reached in a vote by the conference’s athletics directors.
The nine-team tournament in 2009 begins with a first-round game on Friday, March 6. Quarterfinal and semifinal games follow on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, respectively. The championship game will be played Saturday, March 14 at the home court of the higher remaining seed and will be televised by ESPN2.
“We are very proud that our colleagues have chosen the University at Albany to host this championship,” said Lee McElroy, Albany Vice President & Director of Athletics. “The America East basketball championship has been extremely successful and we hope to continue the tradition. We look forward to the challenge of working with the conference membership in presenting a prestigious college basketball event to the university community and Capital Region.”
“We are very excited about going to Albany for the 2009 Men’s Basketball Championship,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “The experience and dedication of Albany’s staff, combined with the passion for basketball in the Capital Region, will make for a promising championship. All of our teams return young, talented players from last year and this can only add excitement to the 2009 tournament.”
SEFCU Arena opened in the spring of 1992 as an $11 million state-of-the-art facility. The playing surface on the arena’s three basketball courts and the surrounding .11 mile track were completely renovated in December of 2004. SEFCU Arena, formerly the Recreation & Convocation Center, played host to the 2006 America Men’s Basketball Championship title game.
The America East Championship has utilized the present format of a single site for the first rounds, with the championship game played at the higher remaining seed since 1996. Binghamton University’s Event Center was the site of the championship in 2006 and 2008. Boston University hosted at Agganis Arena in 2007 and at Walter Brown Arena in 2003 and 2004, while the Terriers were a co-host in 2002 at Matthews Arena. The championship was played at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Del. from 1996 to 2001.
America East will consist of nine teams for the 2008-09 season: Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.
Game times and ticket information for the America East Men’s Basketball Championship will be announced at a later date.
For more information on the 2009 America East Men’s Basketball Championship, please visit AmericaEast.com.