UAlbany FCS Football Meets Duquesne in Pittsburgh to Start Northeast Conference Play on Saturday - UAlbany Sports 2010

Pittsburgh, Pa. - UAlbany begins Northeast Conference play when the Great Danes head to Duquesne on Saturday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is 12:00 p.m. at Rooney Athletic Field. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland handling the play-by-play coverage.

Duquesne (2-1, NEC 0-0) is off to a solid start with wins over Bucknell (17-13) and Pioneer Football League preseason favorite Dayton (35-31). Delaware, one of the nation's top FCS teams, handed the Dukes their first loss of the season one week ago. Head coach Jerry Schmitt leads his team into its third season of NEC competition.

Quarterback Sean Patterson, who is 23rd nationally in total yards at 261.7 per game, can run and pass. The left-hander has thrown for 671 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite targets are a pair of Michigan State transfers. Connor Dixon, a converted quarterback, has 16 catches for 209 yards and one TD. Dave Williams totals 15 receptions for 129 yards and one score. RB Larry McCoy was one of the top FCS freshman rushers last year. He has 261 yards and two TDs on the ground through three games.

The Dukes have 17 returning starters, including 10 on defense. Dave Opfar, who served as Saint Francis' head coach the last eight seasons, has joined the Duquesne staff as defensive coordinator. LB Nathan Totino is a three-year starter in his team's 3-4 scheme. He is fifth among active FCS defenders with 315 career tackles. DE Thaimu Bangura (6-3, 278) and Totino are each on the preseason All-NEC squad.

The Great Danes have been off for two weeks since being overpowered by No. 10 Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. UAlbany (1-1, NEC 0-0) is playing its opening four games on the road and traveling nearly 6,000 miles and to four states in that stretch.

QB Dan Di Lella had connected on 53.6 percent of his pass attempts for 290 yards in two starting assignments. TB Andrew Smith, who missed his last start due to injury, returns to the lineup after rushing for a career-high 129 yards in the opener at Maine. ILB Chris Wilk (11 tackles) and OLB Chris Blais (10 tackles) are the leading tacklers.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes are beginning conference play by traveling to Duquesne for the second time in three years ... UAlbany has won nine of 11 NEC openers since joining the conference in 1999 ... the Great Danes have won five of six games following a bye week as a Division I FCS program.

Football - Duquesne Game Preview (9/23/2010) http://fb.me/x6lXKnZ5


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information