NEC Football Champion UAlbany Awaits Opponent for Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – After winning its second consecutive Northeast Conference football championship last Saturday, UAlbany awaits its opponent for the Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason game that the Great Danes will host on Saturday, Dec. 6 at a time to be determined. The Pioneer Football League champion will be decided on Nov. 22 when Dayton travels to Jacksonville.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) became just the second team in NEC history to go undefeated against conference opposition in back-to-back seasons with last Saturday’s 30-11 victory over Wagner. The Great Danes, who own the longest active Division I FCS conference streak with 13 straight wins in league play, captured their fourth NEC crown and third championship outright.

A clash of high-caliber defenses and offenses will be featured in Saturday’s Pioneer League championship game. Dayton (9-2, PFL 6-1) is ranked No. 1 in rushing defense (53.5 ypg), plus is ranked fourth in points allowed (15.0 ppg) and fifth in total defense (250.4 ypg). DE Scott Vossler (37 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and S Scott Vossler (67 tackles, 10 PBUs) lead the unit. Jacksonville (8-3, PFL 6-1) is 14th nationally in scoring offense (34.7 ppg) and 22nd in total offense (402.9 ypg). RB Rudell Small, the league’s offensive player of the week, is averaging 112.1 rushing yards and has scored 15 touchdowns. The Dolphins are coached by former University of Florida and professional quarterback Kerwin Bell.



UAlbany Paw Prints

... UAlbany will make its second consecutive Gridiron Classic appearance on Dec. 6 ... Dayton defeated the Great Danes, 42-21, at Welcome Stadium last year ...

... the Great Danes have posted seven straight wins, tying the third longest active streak among NCAA Division I FCS programs ... James Madison (9) and Appalachian State (8) are the lone teams with longer streaks ...

... UAlbany has the longest active FCS conference streak with 13 straight wins against league opponents ...

... UAlbany is the second team in NEC history to go unbeaten against league opponents in back-to-back seasons ... Robert Morris accomplished that feat in 1999 and 2000 ...

... the Great Danes have tied their highest single-season win total at the FCS level ... UAlbany went 8-4 in both 2002 and 2007 ...

... TB David McCarty (LaSalle Institute) shattered five school records last Saturday, including career rushing yards (3,082) and single-season rushing yards (1,581) ...

... WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs) caught 10 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns vs. Wagner, and broke Dan Gmelin’s single-season receptions record (58) ...

... McCarty has won or shared NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors five times this season ...

... the Great Danes' defensive unit has held five consecutive opponents under 300 total yards ...

... FS Dave Casale (Troy) set the the program’s FCS single-season standard with his sixth interception ...