Dan Di Lella Throws Three TD Passes in University of Albany's 41-20 Win to Begin NEC Conference Play - UAlbany Sports 2011

Loretto, Pa. - Dan Di Lella threw a career-high three touchdowns passes and UAlbany added more than 200 yards on the ground in a 41-20 victory over Saint Francis, Pa. in the Great Danes' Northeast Conference opener on Saturday, Oct. 1 at DeGol Field.

UAlbany (2-2, NEC 1-0) overcame a rash of penalties and rainy conditions to break a 7-7 deadlock in the late stages of the opening half. After a personal foul backed up the Great Danes, Di Lella directed his team on 68-yard drive. The senior quarterback hit Jameel Gay with a first-down completion to keep the sequence alive. He added a 15-yard run before hooking up with wide receiver Cole King on a 19-yard touchdown. King outleaped cornerback Calvin Bain while falling backward in the end zone.

Ryan Kirchner was key figure after UAlbany's defense recorded a three-and-out. Kirchner returned the subsequent punt 27 yards to set his team up in Red Flash territory. After Di Lella connected with tailback Andrew Smith on a screen pass, the 6-foot-5 signal-caller fired a seven-yard scoring strike to Kirchner on a slant pattern from the left for a 21-7 lead.

"We did a lot of positive things on offense, but the penalties kept the game interesting," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team was flagged 14 times for 145 yards. "We need to tackle better and have more discipline. (Ryan) Kirchner has the ability to make the first guy miss. He has good quickness and great hands."

Saint Francis (1-4, NEC 0-3) hung around in the third quarter. Austin Miele's interception and 45-yard return led to one of two field goals by Josh Thiel in the period. The junior placekicker's second kick of 25 yards closed the gap to 24-13 with 0:38 seconds left in the stanza.

The Great Danes, who have won 10 of 13 conference openers since joining the league in 1999, answered with a quick-strike touchdown. After Clay Harris' 40-yard kickoff return, Di Lella followed two plays later with a long, scoring strike to King. The UAlbany quarterback faked a swing pass in the left flat and delivered a 49-yard TD.

UAlbany's Herb Glass booted a 46-yard field goal midway through the final quarter and Omar Osbourne added a 4-yard touchdown run to close out their team's scoring. Osbourne, a redshirt freshman, ran for a career-best 89 yards on 19 carries. Saint Francis' John Kelly, who completed 11 of 29 attempts, found Jeff Wasilewski with a 16-yard scoring pass in the quarter.

"It's hard to conduct drives when you are moving backwards on penalties," offered Kirchner, who caught four passes and totaled a career-best 142 all-purpose yards. "Dan Di Lella played great and was calm in the pocket. He is very smart and has great tools, especially when you give him time to work."

Each team reached paydirt on its first offensive series of the game. The Great Danes delivered a 14-play march that was capped by Smith's four-yard run out of a two tight-end alignment. Smith rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries on the day. Saint Francis followed with a 66-yard drive. Kelly scored on the 10th play when he scambled to the right and crossed the goal line on a 12-yard scamper. The Red Flash's Kyle Harbridge, the nation's top FCS rusher, was held to 32 yards.

Paw Prints: UAlbany coach Bob Ford recorded his 240th career win as the school's head coach ... the Great Danes have won all 13 meetings in this series ... UAlbany piled up more than 200 yards running and passing for the second straight week ... QB Dan Di Lella threw for 193 yards on 14-of-23 passing ... WR Cole King had his best day as a collegian with five receptions for 102 yards and two TDs ... King is the first UAlbany receiver to topple the 100-yard mark since Oct. 24, 2009 ... Saint Francis coach Chris Villarial was an NFL All-Pro offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears and Bufffalo Bills.


Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics