University of Albany FCS Football Explodes in Third Quarter to Defeat Columbia, 44-21, in Programs' First-Ever Meeting - UAlbany Sports 2011

New York, N.Y. - Andrew Smith rushed for a career-high 155 yards and two touchdowns and threw a scoring pass in leading UAlbany to a 44-21 win in the first-ever meeting with Columbia on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Robert K. Kraft Field.

UAlbany (1-2) led 24-14 in the third quarter, but then broke broke the game open with 20 points over a span of one minute and 46 seconds. Inside linebacker Dave Plungas picked off Sean Brackett's pass over the middle on the Lions' first possession. After UAlbany quarterback Dan Di Lella hooked up with Kevin Chillis on a 39-yard pass-and-run play, Smith darted over the right side on a four-yard scoring run.

Columbia (0-2) coughed up the football on its next two series. Brackett was sacked by defensive tackle Ocieka Bakou and Eddie Delaney pounced on the fumble. Smith, out of the wildcat formation, eluded a Lion defender and then delivered a 10-yard TD strike to wide receiver Ryan Kirchner. Brackett fumble on his team's next play from scrimmage and defensive tackle Zach Morton made the recovery. Di Lella hit tailback Omar Osbourne in the right flat and picked his way down the right sideline on a 37-yard scoring play.

"In this game, you can't turn the ball over," UAlbany coach Bob Ford said. "That's the best we have played offensively this year. We established the run, ran it well inside the tackles, and then we made people miss on the perimeter. It was a good, solid team effort."

The Great Danes broke a 7-7 tie in the second quarter with 17 consecutive points. The go-ahead touchdown was ignited when UAlbany converted a fourth-and-one from its own 45-yard line. Osbourne, a redshirt freshman, later rumbled over the left side on a 17-yard scamper to finish off the 14-play march.

The Lions attempted a faked punt at the UAlbany 46, but fullback Nico Papas bobbled the short snap from center and Ben Carl covered him up. The Great Danes needed just four plays to push their advantage to 21-7. Di Lella, who completed 15 of 26 pass attempts for 208 yards and two TDs, found Kirchner in the middle of the field and the junior bounced off two defenders and raced up the left sideline for a 25-yard touchdown.

UAlbany appeared to be in control after Herb Glass nailed a 34-yard field goal to complete an eight-play sequence that handed his team a 24-7 margin. But Columbia came up with an unconventional touchdown on the last play of the first half. After Alec Fisher returned the kickoff to midfield, Brackett launched a pass to the end zone that was intercepted by Justin Hassan. However, the UAlbany free safety tried to return the ball and fumbled at the two-yard line. Columbia's Connor Nelligan made the recovery for the score.

"I just had to pick a hole or a crease because the offensive line was blocking so well," offered Smith, a junior tailback who accounted for three touchdowns in a game for the first time as a collegian. "It opened up our pass game and we were able to gain some momentum. It was a nice win going into conference play."

Columbia's Brackett connected on 17-of-35 through the air for 176 yards, but was intercepted twice. UAlbany's Kirchner had six receptions for 72 yards and a career-best two touchdowns, while Osbourne rushed for 43 yards on eight carries.

Paw Prints: UAlbany defeated an Ivy League opponent for the second consecutive year after winning at Yale last season ... Columbia's Robert K. Kraft Field is named after the New England Patriots' owner, who played lightweight/sprint football for the Lions ... Herb Glass became UAlbany's all-time leader with 29 field goals, breaking a standard held by Jason Fralicker ... the Great Danes begin Northeast Conference play on the road at Saint Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics