UAlbany After Share of Northeast Conference Football Title Against Robert Morris on Saturday

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Moon Township, Pa. -- UAlbany and Robert Morris square off with Northeast Conference title implications on the line at Joe Walton Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM. The Great Danes, who are currently in first place in the league standings, can earn a share of the conference title with a victory.

The Colonials have won three in a row against NEC opponents to move into fourth place in the standings. Robert Morris (4-5, NEC 3-2) dispatched Central Connecticut State, 27-14, last week, as QB Erik Cwalinski directed a pro-style offense to 428 total yards. Cwalinski has thrown for 1,871 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. HB Myles Russ has provided the RMU offense with a balanced attack. Russ, who ran for 163 vs. Central Conn. State, is eighth nationally in rushing (123.2 ypg). WR Sherrod Evers leads a group of dangerous receivers. LB Alex DiMichele (101 tackles) is the top defender on an improving unit that is 31st among the FCS national leaders in scoring defense (21.1 ppg). Joe Walton, the former New York Jets’ head coach, is in his 15th season at the helm.

UAlbany (6-3, NEC 5-0) is coming off an impressive second-half performance in a 35-17 come-from-behind triumph over Monmouth on Nov. 1. TB David McCarty rushed for 185 of his 208 yards after halftime, as his squad posted its fifth consecutive win. WR Tim Bush caught a 6-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 17-yard reverse in the third quarter to wipe out a 14-0 deficit. QB Vinny Esposito reached the end zone on a pair of 1-yard sneaks in the final period. TB Justin Gannon, who was chosen NEC special teams player of the week, jump-started his team’s rally with a 37-yard kickoff return to begin the second half. Gannon accounted for 136 all-purpose yards, the fourth time he has surpassed the century mark as a collegian. DT Tom Pandolf made seven tackles to lead a defensive unit that has limited three straight opponents to less than 300 total yards.

***********

UAlbany’s Tony Sparano has been chosen to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Football Team, as voted by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Sparano, a first-team selection, moves on to the University Division national ballot.

Sparano, a junior defensive end from Colleyville, Texas, has a 3.39 cumulative grade point average in history with a minor in political science. He started the opening five games of the season, before fracturing a bone in his left arm in the conference opener on Oct. 4. He had 18 tackles and one forced fumble prior to the injury. Sparano, who is the son of the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, was named to the 2007 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll. He had a career-high six tackles against nationally-ranked New Hampshire in September.