UAlbany Quarterback Dan Di Lella Named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Dan Di Lella has been named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 17 by the league office. Di Lella, a 6-foot-5 quarterback, helped move the Great Danes into sole possession of first place in the conference standings following last Saturday's 28-17 victory over Robert Morris at University Field.

Di Lella, a senior from Neshanic Station, N.J., passed for a career-high 279 yards and three first-half touchdowns in his team's fourth win in a row. He completed 20 of 30 attempts to tie the eighth-best single-game passing total in school history. Di Lella led his team to touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the first quarter. He fired a 44-yard scoring strike to Cole King and a 9-yard TD pass to Nick Hutcherson. The UAlbany signal-caller hooked up with Ryan Kirchner on a 27-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Di Lella, who became the eighth UAlbany quarterback to pass for more than 2,000 career yards in the contest, led an offense that piled up 473 yards. In six starting assignments, has thrown for 1,274 yards and 11 touchdowns, plus added 178 yards on the ground. UAlbany (4-2, NEC 3-0) owns a four-game win streak for the first time since 2009.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes have moved to first place in the Northeast Conference standings for the first time since Oct. 26, 2009 ... UAlbany travels to Central Connecticut State on Saturday, Oct. 22. at 12 noon ... the Blue Devils rallied for an overtime win last year and came from behind for a 31-29 decision in 2009 ... UAlbany won its Homecoming game for the sixth consecutive year ... QB Dan Di Lella was also recognized by College Sports Madness as the NEC's player of the week ... TB Andrew Smith has accounted for 100 or more all-purpose yards in fourth straight games ... UAlbany is No. 16 in total offense (428.2 ypg) and No. 19 in scoring (33.3 ppg) among the NCAA Division I FCS leaders ... the Great Danes are receiving votes in both national polls ... Paul Layton is fourth nationally with a 45.4 punting average ... Eddie Delaney made four tackles and had a career-high 1.5 sacks versus Robert Morris ... Delaney, who was the subject of a national Associated Press wire story last week, will be noted in the upcoming edition of Sports Illustrated.