UAlbany FCS Football's Defensive Tackle Zach Gallo Selected Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Zach Gallo has been selected Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 10 for his performance in last Saturday's 38-10 victory over Duquesne at University Field. Additionally, Paul Layton has been named College Football Performance Awards national punter of the week for the second time this season.

Gallo, a senior defensive tackle from Sayville, N.Y., made five tackles with one sack and a forced fumble in the showdown with league-leader Duquesne. The Dukes, who entered the contest averaging 33.8 points and 470.8 yards per game, were held to season-lows by a UAlbany opponent in total yards (235), rushing yards (91) and first downs (9).

Gallo, a 6-foot, 265-pound defender, twice wiped out scoring threats by the nation's fifth-ranked offense. With Duquesne facing a fourth-and-one at UAlbany's 34-yard line early in the second quarter, Gallo blew by his blocker and dropped preseason all-conference running back Larry McCoy for no gain. Early in the fourth quarter, Gallo spoiled the Dukes' first-down opportunity from the Great Danes' 29 by forcing McCoy to fumble. Gallo is tied for sixth on the team in tackles with 24 and needs one to reach the 100-career mark as a collegian.

Layton, a sophomore from Burnt Hills, N.Y., averaged 55.7 yards in three punting attempts against Duquesne. He nailed a 66-yard quick kick in the second quarter and had punts of 50 and 51 yards in the third period. Layton, who has 12 punts of 50 or more yards this season, is second among the NCAA Division I FCS leaders with a 47.4 average.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Robert Morris will meet on Saturday, Oct. 15 with first place in the Northeast Conference standings on the line ... kickoff is 1:07 p.m. on Homecoming/Fall Festival Weekend ... the game will be televised on Time Warner Cable Sports, with Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye providing the coverage ... UAlbany's Bob Ford and Robert Morris' Joe Walton each started their programs ... Ford recorded his 250th win as a college head coach last Saturday and is second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno in career victories among active Division I FBS or FCS coaches ... Walton, the from New York Jets' head coach from 1983-89, is in his 18th season at Robert Morris and has a 105-73-1 record ... QB Dan Di Lella was the College Sports Madness' NEC Player of the Week after he passed for 176 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 90 yards against Duquesne ... UAlbany's offense racked up more than 400 yards for the third straight game, a first since the 2003 season ... TB Andrew Smith recorded his third consecutive 100-yard rushing effort ... Steve Checksfield, a two-sport star in baseball and football, will one of four former athletes enshrined in the UAlbany Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday ... Checksfield was a first team All-NEC tight end in UAlbany inaugural season at the Division I FCS level in 1999.