UAlbany Football Remains #3 in Mid-Major Polls; David McCarty Named NEC Offensive Player of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. – University at Albany’s David McCarty has been named the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week in football following his performance in last Saturday’s 49-14 victory over Central Connecticut State, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Nov. 19. McCarty received the award for the third straight week and fourth time this season.

McCarty, a sophomore tailback from Gansevoort, N.Y., rushed for a career-high 247 yards and two touchdowns in leading his team to its first Northeast Conference championship in four years. He scored on a 47-yard run in the third quarter and reached the end zone on a 52-yard scamper early in the final period. McCarty piled up the second-highest single-game rushing total in the program’s history. Tom DeBlois holds the all-time mark with 286 yards against Springfield in 1975.

McCarty reached the 100-yard mark for the fifth consecutive game and seventh time this season. He has the third-best single-season total in school annals with 1,369 yards and 11 touchdowns. McCarty is tied for 11th among the NCAA Division I FCS rushing leaders at 124.5 yards per game.

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UALBANY FOOTBALL REMAINS THIRD IN MID-MAJOR POLLS HEADING INTO THE POSTSEASON

Albany, N.Y. – Following a 49-14 victory over Central Connecticut State last Saturday, UAlbany remains third in both The Sports Network and Football Gazette mid-major rankings. The Great Danes, who are receiving votes in all three national top-25 polls, captured their first Northeast Conference championship in four years by becoming the fifth team in league history to go undefeated in conference play.

The Great Danes, who also won NEC titles in 2002 and 2003, will represent the conference in the Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 1. Dayton, the Pioneer Football League co-champion, will host the bowl game. The Flyers are ranked No. 1 in both mid-major polls with a 10-1 record.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 6-0) finished the regular season with seven wins in a row, the longest streak since 1998. The Great Danes are making their first postseason appearance since 2002 when they played in the ECAC Classic against Duquesne.


The Sports Network Division I FCS Top-10 Mid-Major Poll

1. Dayton (10-1), 2. San Diego (9-2), 3. Albany (8-3), 4. Morehead State (7-4), 5. Iona (7-4), 6. Drake (6-5), 7. Wagner (7-4), 8. Duquesne (6-4), 9. Davidson (6-4), 10. Central Connecticut State (6-5).

Football Gazette Division I FCS Mid-Major Poll

1. Dayton, 2. San Diego, 3. Albany, 4. Morehead State, 5. Davidson, 6. Drake, 7. Monmouth, 8. Wagner, 9. Duquesne, 10. Iona.