UAlbany FCS Football Makes Trip to Improving Saint Francis for Saturday's Northeast Conference Game - UAlbany Sports 2009

Loretto, Pa. - UAlbany travels to Northeast Conference opponent Saint Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM.

The Red Flash, who went winless one year ago, have shown tremendous improvement and may be the surprise team in the conference. Saint Francis (1-3, NEC 0-1) fell to Wagner, 56-48, in triple overtime to begin the league schedule. Head coach Dave Ofpar's squad also had respectable efforts against nationally-ranked teams in New Hampshire and Northern Iowa and a solid 31-0 victory over Morehead State.

John Kelly, a Penn State walk-on last season, has taken over at quarterback. He has thrown for 679 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Antoine Rivera is rewriting the SFU record book. Rivera, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, has 23 receptions for 366 yards and four TDs. He has more the 2,000 career receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Jude Yearwood ran for 118 yards and two scores against Wagner.

The Red Flash are ranked fourth among the NCAA Division I FCS leaders in turnover margin at plus-2.3 per game. Scott Lewis, a first-team all-conference outside linebacker, has 302 career tackles. Matthew Parker, who is currently averaging 11.2 tackles per game from his inside linebacker position, was a second-team All-NEC selection last year. Defensive end Russel Fisher (6-2, 260) is a veteran of 32 games as a collegian.

UAlbany (2-2, NEC 1-0) held Sacred Heart to 267 total yards and forced three turnovers en route to a 22-9 triumph last Saturday. The Great Danes set a school mark with their 10th consecutive home win. David McCarty, who rushed for 105 yards, sealed the verdict by scoring on a 4-yard run with 3:58 remaining. Herb Glass tied a single-game record with three field goals, all in the first half.

Outside linebacker Dave Nicomini was named the NEC defensive player of the week after making five tackles and break-up a career-high three passes against Sacred Heart. The Great Danes twice held the SHU to field goals in first-and-goal situations. Inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio (7 tackles) and free safety Dave Casale (5 tackles, 2 PBUs) also contributed to the defensive effort. Brancaccio moved past the 200-career tackles mark (204).

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information