UAlbany Football Gets Some Recognition In The FCS

It was a tough week in college football as hurricane Ike caused plenty of games to be postponed or cancelled. It was also a week with less-than-intriguing matchups as there were many games against FBS teams and sub-D-I competition which pretty much went as expected. As a result, fans of FCS teams had significantly fewer opportunities to watch good games this weekend.

There were three unlikely teams, however, that demonstrated that they belong in the national discussion. With thrilling victories, they all deserve early attention from FCS fans.

Watching the Danes

The Big South and Northeast conferences will be getting automatic bids to the FCS playoffs in 2010. But teams can qualify for an autobid to the playoffs by meeting certain criteria, one of which is two wins against teams from conferences that already have autobids.

From the NEC, The Albany Great Danes made their first stride towards this goal with a thrilling 22-16 overtime win over Hofstra, a member of the CAA.

In a back-and-forth game, the Pride rallied to knot the game at 16 when freshman runningback Brock Jackloski barreled into the end zone to cap off a 14 play 73 yard drive. Hofstra would get the get the ball back with 5 minutes left and attempted to eat up the clock and set up for a 34 yard field goal to win the game. However, linebacker Dave Casale would block the attempt to force overtime.

In the overtime it would be another blocked kick that would set up the Dane’s big win. Offensive lineman Raphael Nguti this time was the player that would block Brian Hanly’s 30 yard attempt.

That would set up Albany runningback David McCarty (28 carries, 178 yards) for his only touchdown on the evening: a 7 yard run that would give the Danes their first victory over a CAA squad since they shocked Delaware in 2005.

With games left against two nationally-ranked CAA opponents on the schedule in Delaware and New Hampshire, should Albany knock off one or both we may be seeing them practice Thanksgiving weekend for something other than the “Gridiron Classic".

UAlbany sporting News Article