UAlbany Moves Into First Place in Northeast Conference Standings Following 24-10 Victory

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Staten Island, N.Y. -- Sophomore tailback David McCarty rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown in leading UAlbany to a 24-10 Northeast Conference victory over Wagner on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Wagner College Stadium. The Great Danes, who have strung together four straight wins, moved into first place in the conference standings after Central Connecticut State fell from the unbeaten ranks in league play.

UAlbany (5-3, NEC 3-0) put the game away late in third quarter when cornerback Ross Bertrand picked off Wagner quarterback Matt Abbey and returned the ball 36 yards to the Seahawks' 21. Omar Johnson, who ran for 53 yards, all in the second half, later powered over left guard on a three-yard run for a 24-3 lead on the second play of the final period.

Wagner (5-3, NEC 3-2) closed within two touchdowns with 3:56 remaining on a two-yard blast by fullback Richard Parker. Senior tailback Jason Butler, who ran for 100-plus yards for the eighth time this season, set up the TD with a 47-yard scamper. UAlbany sacked Abbey twice on his team's last series to end any threat.

"We felt that first down was critical,” said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford. “We wanted to take the run away and make them throw the ball. As the game wore on, our ability to run the football took its toll on their defensive line."

In an opening half that featured several gadget plays, a faked punt by Wagner backfired. UAlbany took advantage of a short field to break a 3-3 tie early in the second quarter. Vinny Esposito fired a 15-yard scoring pass to flanker Mike Wall, who hauled in the ball over the shoulder of cornerback Tavares Lee with 13:19 left in the stanza.

The Great Danes took a 17-3 lead by marching 69 yards for a touchdown. Esposito hit Wall with a boot-leg pass for 19 yards, before scrambling for another first down. David McCarty then cut over left guard and into the end zone untouched on a 14-yard scamper with 3:03 remaining before halftime.

Both teams used several trick plays in the first quarter. Wagner's Matt Abbey connected with Lon Woods for 46 yards off a flea-flicker on his team's first offensive set. Piotr Czech's 29-yard field goal tied the contest at three apiece. Wall's 58-yard return with the opening kickoff led to Jason Fralicker's 37-yard field goal.

"I told the line to make the holes and lead the way and I will follow them,” said McCarty, who toppled the 100-yard rushing mark for the fourth time this season. “It's good to know that there are backs like (Colin) Simmons and (Omar) Johnson behind me. There's no jealously about who gets the most carries."

Wagner's Abbey completed 21 of 30 passes for 218 yards, but was intercepted twice. Butler finished with 116 rushing yards in 24 carries. Esposito threw for 91 yards and added 20 on the ground for the Great Danes, who ran for 240 against a defense that was ranked among the best in the Division I FCS ranks heading into the contest.

"We played team defense today,” said UAlbany’s Michael Dungey, who had seven tackles, including four solo and a half-sack. “No one tried to do things that they were not supposed to; we stayed in our gaps. It's nice but it doesn't matter that we are in first place. You only get a trophy at the end of the season."