Head FCS Football Coach Bob Ford Announces University of Albany 2010 Recruiting Class - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Wednesday, Feb. 3 the signing of 16 student-athletes to national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2010-11 academic year. UAlbany posted a 7-4 record and finished second in the Northeast Conference standings last season.

The 2010 signing class features seven players from the state of New York, plus three from New Jersey, three from Ohio, two from Florida, and one from Maryland. The breakdown by position includes one offensive lineman, three wide receivers, three running backs, one quarterback, one tight end, four defensive linemen, two linebackers and one defensive back.

"We did a good job of meeting our needs in the defensive line and wide receiver positions," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who is the winningest active Division I FCS coach with 241 career victories. "There are two defensive ends and two tackles in the class, and (Zach) Morton is arguably the best defensive lineman in the Capital Region. The three receivers have lots of speed. (Lance) Fanthrop has great hands and was an all-state player."

Among the Great Danes' commitments is running back Dillon Romain, the 2008 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year who attended Blair Academy last year, and defensive lineman Andrew Smith, a Class AA first-team all-state player from Long Island who originally signed with Hofstra University. Both student-athletes enrolled at UAlbany in January and will participate in 2010 spring practice.

"We were fortunate to have two enroll in January and they will be with us for spring ball," Ford stated. "(Dillon) Romain is a year older after having gone to prep school. He has size and in time will be a good one. (Andrew) Smith is big, agile and extremely fast at his position."

The 2010 signing class features five players who earned all-state recognition by the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA), two were All-Ohio selections and two made the all-state team in New Jersey.

2010 University at Albany Football Signings
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown (High School)
Brandon Baylor, S, 5-11, 179, Silver Spring, Md. (St. John's College)
Ryan Conway, DT, 6-0, 240, Brunswick, Ohio (Brunswick)
Jake Dwyer, ILB, 6-2, 215, Springboro, Ohio (Springboro)
Lance Fanthorp, WR, 5-11, 175, Cincinnati, Ohio (Morrow Little Miami)
Will Fiacchi, QB,, 6-3, 200, Marcellus, N.Y. (Marcellus)
Jameel Gay, WR, 5-11, 165, Tampa, Fla. (Alonso)
Clay Harris, RB, 5-10, 185, West Henrietta, N.Y. (Rush-Henrietta)
Austin Jenquine, OL, 6-4, 250, Largo, Fla. (Largo)
Kyle Jordan, OLB, 5-11, 195, Bernardsville, N.J. (Immaculata)
Cole King, WR, 6-1, 185, Syracuse, N.Y. (Henninger)
Tim Kologrivov, DT, 6-0, 265, Wyckoff, N.J. (Ramapo)
Zach Morton, DE, 6-5, 225, Burnt Hills, N.Y. (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake)
Omar Osbourne, RB, 6-1, 195, Syracuse, N.Y. (Bishop Ludden)
Brian Parker, TE, 6-4, 240, Henrietta, N.Y. (McQuaid Jesuit)
Dillon Romain, RB, 5-11, 210, Vernon, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep)
Andrew Smith, DE, 6-2, 250, Wading River, N.J. (Riverhead)

UAlbany Football Signing Profiles
Brandon Baylor
S, 5-11, 179, Silver Spring, Md. (St. John's College)
Named to the MDHigh.com All-Washington D.C. second team ... All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) third team ... positioned at cornerback, safety, wide receiver and outside linebacker ... made 57 tackles with two interceptions, one forced fumble and six pass break-ups ... scored on a 15-yard INT return versus Bishop McNamara ... participated in D.C. All-Star Game ... the Cadets made their fifth consecutive WCAC playoff appearance in his junior season.

Ryan Conway
DT, 6-0, 240, Brunswick, Ohio (Brunswick)
Chosen All-Ohio Division I first team ... made 86 tackles ... first-team All-Northeast Inland District for the second consecutive season ... first-team All-Northeast Ohio Conference - Valley Division ... special mention All-Ohio Division I as a junior ... totaled 64 tackles, seven sacks, five tackles for a loss and four fumble recoveries ... also started on offensive line.

Jake Dwyer
ILB, 6-2, 215, Springboro, Ohio (Springboro)
Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) South Defensive Player of the Year ... Division I All-Southwest District second team ... first-team All-GWOC South ... led Panthers to an 8-2 record by making 127 tackles, including 24 for a loss and seven sacks ... totaled 71 tackles, 14 TFLs and two sacks as a junior ... lettered in wrestling.

Lance Fanthorp
WR, 5-11, 175, Cincinnati, Ohio (Morrow Little Miami)
Selected All-Ohio Division II first team ... first-team All-Southwest District ... two-time All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference wide receiver ... ninth in the state with 63 receptions for 1,178 yards ... scored 17 touchdowns ... second-team All-Southwest District as a junior when he caught 45 passes for 927 yards and 10 TDs ... rushed for five scores ... FAVC's top 100-meter dash sprinter in 10.79 seconds.

Will Fiacchi
QB, 6-3, 200, Marcellus, N.Y. (Marcellus)
Named to NYSSWA Class B all-state first team ... All-Central New York first team by Syracuse Post Standard ... passed for 2,607 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior in leading the Mustangs to a 7-3 record ... third in state history with 6,971 career passing yards ... 70 career TD passes, eight rushing touchdowns and had a completion percentage of 58% ... recorded third-best single-game passing total in state annals with 519 yards against South Jefferson ... earned third-team all-state recognition as a junior when he threw for 2,169 yards and 21 TDs ... first-team All-Onondaga League as a sophomore ... passed for 2,176 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Jameel Gay
WR, 5-11, 165, Tampa, Fla. (Alonso)
Second-team All-Western Conference - American Division ... caught 33 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns ... 14 tackles and three pass break-ups as a cornerback ... 2009 Hillsborough County All-Star Game ... played at Sickles High as a junior ... 36 receptions for 366 yards and one TD ... averaged 19.8 yards per kickoff return.

Clay Harris
RB, 5-10, 185, West Henrietta, N.Y. (Rush-Henrietta)
Named to the NYSSWA Class AA all-state fifth team ... All-Greater Rochester first team by Democrat & Chronicle ... rushed for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior ... accounted for 252 all-purpose yards, including an 85-yard punt return for a score, against Fairport ... second-team All-Greater Rochester as junior when he ran for 1,480 yards and 22 TDs ... guard on Royal Comets' basketball team.

Austin Jenquine
OL, 6-4, 250, Largo, Fla. (Largo)
All-Pinellas County first team by St. Petersburg Times ... Florida Athletics Coaches Association (FACA) Class 4A All-District 10 squad as a center ... the Packers, who finished 9-3 overall, averaged 30.4 points and 199.9 rushing yards with 31 touchdowns ... his junior and sophomore teams each advanced to the 5A state semifinals ... coach for Largo Little League program.

Kyle Jordan
OLB, 5-11, 195, Bernardsville, N.J. (Immaculata)
Second-team All-Somerset County ... first-team All-Raritan Division ... rushed for 344 yards and four touchdowns as a fullback despite missing part of the season with a knee injury ... hauled in 21 passes for 220 yards and three TDs ... led Spartans to a 10-2 record ... made 43 tackles with 1.5 sacks and one interception as a linebacker.

Cole King
WR, 6-1, 185, Syracuse, N.Y. (Henninger)
All-Central New York first team by Syracuse Post Standard ... first-team All-Onondaga League Class AA-2 ... scored by pass reception, punt return and interception return as a senior ... member of 2008 Section III championship team ... second in high jump and third in long jump at 2009 Section III indoor track championship ... also competed in triple jump ... member of Black Knights' baseball team.

Tim Kologrivov
DT, 6-0, 265, Wyckoff, N.J. (Ramapo)
New Jersey All-Group III third team ... All-Bergen County second team ... All-Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) ... 32 tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles and one recovery as a senior ... WGHT All-Area squad ... Green Raiders finished with a 10-2 record ... baseball catcher.

Zach Morton
DE, 6-5, 225, Burnt Hills, N.Y. (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake)
Chosen to NYSSWA Class A all-state second team as a defensive lineman ... Albany Times Union Large School All-Area Team ... Daily Gazette all-area first team and Troy Record all-area second team ... Class A Northwest Co-Defensive Player of the Year ... made 48 tackles with six sacks and two blocked punts ... Spartans reached state championship game and finished No. 4 in the Class A rankings with a 12-1 record ... first-team Class A Northwest as a junior ... one of the top Section II basketball scorers at 17.6 points per game.

Omar Osbourne
RB, 6-1, 195, Syracuse, N.Y. (Bishop Ludden)
Chosen to NYSSWA Class C all-state second team for the second year in a row ... Syracuse Post Standard All-Central New York first team as a junior and senior ... All-Onondaga League Class C West first team twice ... totaled 1,570 rushing yards, 450 receiving yards and scored 23 touchdowns as a senior ... ran for 239 yards and two TDs vs. Adirondack ... Gaelic Knights finished 8-1 and were ranked No. 11 in state poll ... rushed for 1,565 yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a junior ... member of basketball team.

Brian Parker
TE, 6-4, 240, Henrietta, N.Y. (McQuaid Jesuit)
All-Greater Rochester second team by Democrat & Chonicle ... the Knights, who went 8-2 overall and were No. 13 in state's Class A rankings, advanced to Section V Class A final ... caught three passes for 46 yards as a tight end and made eight tackles as a defensive end vs. Aquinas Institue in sectional title game ... member of two City-Catholic League championship teams ... honorable mention All-Greater Rochester in basketball as a junior when he averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Dillon Romain
RB, 5-11, 210, Vernon, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep)
Attended Blair Academy in New Jersey where he was chosen All-Prep first team by Newark Star-Ledger ... rushed for 1,104 yards and 13 touchdowns ... played safety, cornerback and outside linebacker ... made 57 tackles, including eight for a loss, and had two forced fumbles and three recoveries ... totaled 331 all-purpose yards vs. Western Reserve (Ohio) Academy ... 2008 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year at Don Bosco Prep ... 1,436 rushing yards and 26 TDs as a senior ... MVP of New Jersey vs. Northeast All-Star Classic ... led team to third consecutive Non-Public, Group IV state championship ... enrolled at UAlbany for 2010 spring semester.

Andrew Smith
DT, 6-2, 250, Wading River, N.Y. (Riverhead)
2008 NYSSWA Class AA first-team all-state selection ... led Riverhead High to a 12-0 record, the Long Island championship, Rutgers Cup and a Nassau County Division II title ... first-team All-Long Island by Newsday ... made 87 tackles as a defensive end and had 15 receptions and three touchdowns as a tight end ... totaled 71 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions as a junior ... member of track & field program ... originally signed with Hofstra University as a member of the 2009 class, but spent the fall semester as a student at Suffolk County Community College ... enrolled at UAlbany in 2010 spring semester.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Chris Simpson Chosen Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Sport of Football - UAlbany Sports 2010

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Chris Simpson has been chosen Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of football, as announced on Tuesday, Jan. 26 by the conference office. Simpson is the third UAlbany student-athlete to receive the annual honor, joining J.T. Herfurth (2000) and Victor Camacho (2003).

Simpson, a senior inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., has a 3.97 cumulative grade point average in physics. A key member of a defensive unit that ranked among the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) leaders in scoring, rushing and total yards allowed, Simpson totaled 58 tackles with 2.0 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as an 11-game starter. UAlbany (7-4) finished second in the NEC standings. He was named both the ECAC and NEC player of the week after recording a career-high 11 tackles and forcing a turnover that led to the winning touchdown in a 20-16 upset of No. 20 Maine in September. UAlbany combined for 31 victories and won a pair of conference championships during his 46-game career.

As a student, Simpson was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy and was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Team. A Presidential Scholar and winner of the CRC Press Chemistry Award, Simpson served as a research assistant with the College of Nanoscale Science and Enginneering and has aided in the research of MOSFET alternatives for electronic devices. He is also a member of the school's Student-Athletic Advisory (SAAC) Executive Committee and has been an academic tutor in math, physics and chemistry.

Simpson is a member of UAlbany's 3+2 engineering program (all of his fall semesters classes were taken at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). He will graduate with a degree in physics from UAlbany this spring and earn a B.S. in mechanical engineering from RPI in May 2011.

NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll: The Great Danes placed 18 players on the 2009 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll ... each student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average to be recognized ... offensive guard Justin Anderson (business administration), outside linebacker Chris Blais (human biology), quarterback Frank Blasinsky (business administration), inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio (communication), fullback Ben Carl (business administration), quarterback Dan Di Lella (criminal justice), offensive tackle Vince Gonzales (history), tight end Matt Goss (criminal justice), inside linebacker Dan Halperin (undeclared), offensive tackle Jordan Migliore (criminal justice), defensive end Wil Moushey (business administration), offensive tackle Keith Peifer (business administration), inside linebacker Chris Simpson (physics), defensive end Tony Sparano (history), offensive guard Andrew Stevens (business administration), inside linebacker Eddie Tretina (undeclared), wide receiver Rhakeem Wiggins (undeclared) and punter Bobby Woods (accounting) were chosen.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's McCarty & Richards Among 10 UAlbany Players on All-Northeast Conference Football Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's David McCarty and Kevin Richards lead a group of ten players who have been chosen to the 2009 All-Northeast Conference Football Team, as announced on Monday, Nov. 30 by the conference office. The Great Danes, who had six players on the first team, finished with a 7-4 record and placed second in the league standings.

McCarty, a senior tailback, and Richards, a senior center, each made his third appearance on the All-NEC squad. McCarty, a second-team selection who ran for nine touchdowns, was plagued by injuries throughout the season, but still ranked 26th nationally among the NCAA Division I FCS rushing leaders at 84.9 yards per game. He ended his career as the program's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,287), all-purpose running yards (4,976) and 100-yard rushing games (24). Richards moved up to the all-conference first team after being voted to the second team the last two seasons. Richards, who appeared in 40 career games, blocked for an offensive unit that was balanced in rushing (159.6 ypg) and passing (181.7 ypg).

Inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio, free safety Dave Casale and wide receiver Tim Bush each made his second consecutive appearance on the All-NEC first team. Brancaccio led the UAlbany in tackles with 94, including 38 unassisted, and spearheaded a defense that was 26th among the FCS national leaders in points allowed (19.4 ppg) and 27th in rushing defense (118.3 ypg). The senior is eighth on the school's career tackles chart with 261.

Bush became the first Great Dane to catch 60 or more passes in back-to-back seasons. He had 63 catches for 861 yards and three touchdowns. He shattered the program's career standard with 147 receptions and is third all-time with 1,880 receiving yards. Casale accounted for 77 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and six pass break-ups. He completed his collegiate career tied for sixth in interceptions (11) and 18th in tackles (224) among UAlbany's all-time leaders.

Dave Nicomini, a senior outside linebacker, earned first-team All-NEC recognition for the second time. He missed all of the 2008 season after suffering a major knee injury the previous spring. After receiving a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA due to medical hardship, Nicomini returned to his all-league form from two years ago with 73 tackles and six pass break-ups. He led the Great Danes in tackles for a loss (12.0) and sacks (4.0). Nicomini is 12th among the program's career tackles leaders with 242.

Senior tailback Justin Gannon is on the all-league second team for the second year in a row as a return specialist. He led the team in all-purpose yards at 100.9 per game and is 12th nationally in punt returns with a 12.8 average. Gannon was second on the team in rushing with 471 yards and scored five touchdowns. He is sixth in career all-purpose yards at the school with 2,859.

Trevor Anderson, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound junior, defensive end Tony Sparano and placekicker Herb Glass each receives all-conference honors for the first time. Anderson, a first-team defensive tackle, totaled 36 tackles with 5.5 hits for a loss, 3.0 sacks and two pass deflections. He has 101 tackles and 8.5 sacks entering his senior campaign. Sparano, a second-team selection, had 33 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Glass was named to the second team after leading UAlbany in scoring with 61 points. He made 12-of-18 field goals and 25-of-27 point-after attempts. His field goal total matched the third-best single-season mark in school history.

Paw Prints: UAlbany had 10 or more all-conference selections for the third straight season ... the Great Danes have had 10-plus all-league players in six of their 11 years as a Northeast Conference member ... TB David McCarty and C Kevin Richards are among a group of 12 Great Danes to have earned All-NEC honors three or more times in a career ... ILB Colin Disch, OT Geir Gudmundsen and FS Samson Brown, who coaches the tight ends as a member of Bob Ford's current staff, are the only four-time all-conference selections.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football QB Vinny Esposito Chosen Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Vinny Esposito has been selected Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Nov. 23 by the conference office. Esposito received the weekly award for the second time this season.

Esposito, a senior quarterback from Demarest, N.J., accounted for four touchdowns, all in the first half, in last Saturday's 41-28 victory against Wagner. He threw touchdown passes of nine and 14 yards to help stake his team to a 21-7 lead. Esposito added scoring runs of 8 and 1 yards in the final minutes of the second quarter to help build a 20-point halftime margin. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 248 yards, the eighth time in his career that he surpassed the 200-mark. Esposito made a key play in the final quarter when he fired a 29-yard strike to Tim Bush on a third-and-18 play that ignited a touchdown drive.

Among the program's all-time leaders in several categories, Esposito completed his career second in both passing yards (5,692) and touchdown passes (38). UAlbany (7-4, NEC 6-2) finished in second place in the NEC standings, one game behind league champion Central Connecticut State.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes reached the seven-win mark for the fourth consecutive season ... the Great Danes have posted six or more victories in Northeast Conference play on six occasions ... TB Justin Gannon tied a career-high with 205 all-purpose yards against Wagner ... Gannon rushed for a career-high 86 yards on 19 carries and scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter to seal the outcome ... QB/TB Andrew Smith ran for 98 yards, one off his career-best total, and scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter ... WR Tim Bush made five catches for 77 yards and is the school's all-time leader with 147 career receptions ... FS Dave Casale had seven tackles and is No. 18 on the career list with 224 ... ILB Justin Brancaccio, who has a team-high nine stops vs. Wagner, ended up eighth on the all-time tackles chart with 261 ... TB David McCarty was plagued by seven different injuries in his final season and left last week's game in the second quarter with a hip injury ... McCarty finished his career as the program's leader in rushing yards (4,287), all-purpose yards (4,976) and career 100-yard rushing games (24).

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany QB Vinny Esposito Accounts for Four TDs in Football's 41-28 NEC Victory Against Wagner - UAlbany Sports 2009

Staten Island, N.Y. - Senior quarterback Vinny Esposito passed for two touchdowns and ran for two scores, all in the first half, in leading UAlbany to a 41-28 Northeast Conference victory over Wagner on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Wagner College Stadium. The Great Danes finished their season alone in second place in the conference standings, one game behind league champion Central Connecticut State.

UAlbany (7-4, NEC 6-2) had to hold on in the second half after building a 20-point lead at the intermission. Wagner (6-5, NEC 5-3) controlled the third quarter and closed within 34-21 on freshman quarterback Nick Doscher's 2-yard run over right tackle with 10:26 left in the stanza. The Seahawks were looking for most points at the end of the period, but David Lopez missed a 45-yard field goal.

The Great Danes immediately responded with an 8-play, 72-yard drive to start the final quarter. Esposito, who connected on 14 of 21 passes for 248 yards, found Tim Bush with a 29-yard completion on third-and-18 to keep the series alive. Justin Gannon, a senior tailback, capped the sequence with a 12-yard touchdown run for a 41-20 lead with 11:40 to play. Gannon, who got the majority of the work with David McCarty sidelined by a hip injury, finished with a career-high 86 yards on 19 carries.

Doscher, a 22-year-old who was originally was selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Roylas, moved his team 72 yards to get his club within two scores. Doscher worked his way to the right on fourth-and-goal at the UAlbany 13 and fired a touchdown strike to Justin Matthews, who was wide open in the back of the end zone. The college rookie passed for 156 yards and added 78 on the ground.

But that was as close as the Seahawks would get, as UAlbany used its rushing attack to run down the clock. Andrew Smith, a redshirt freshman, keyed that action and had 98 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Safety Emerson Kinsey intercepted a Doscher pass on the sideline to seal the outcome with 2:42 to play.

"We responded to everything that they gave us," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team reached the seven-win mark for the fourth consecutive season. "We were a little sloppy in the kicking game and their quarterback is going to give a lot people headaches during his career."

The Great Danes scored twice in a one-minute-and-44-second span of the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.Smith reached paydirt on an 8-yard run when he faked into the line out of the quarterback position and darted through the middle. After outside linebacker Jon Morgan recovered a fumble, Esposito, the starting signal-caller, hit Smith, out of the tailback spot, in the right flat with a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Wagner regrouped with a 10-play, 83-yard march behind the Doscher's play. Dominque Williams, who rushed for 101 yards, finished off that series with a 28-yard rumble over the right side for a touchdown with 7:32 left in the second quarter. The Great Danes responded with a seven-play drive. Esposito hooked up with McCarty on a 35-yard screen pass, before Smith rushed for 27 yards. Esposito's 14-yard TD pass to fullback Chris Kenneally gave his team a 21-7 advantage.

The Seahawks' Frantz Placide took the following kickoff 89 yards to end zone when he broke through a wedge and sped down the right sideline. UAlbany came back with two scores in the late stages of the period to build a 34-14 halftime lead. Esposito worked his way around right end on an 8-yard option run for the first touchdown. The senior then executed a perfect three-play series from near midfield. He threw a pair of 25-plus yard passes to Gannon and then went over from 1-yard out on a sneak.

"With (David) McCarty sidelined I just wanted to do my part," offered Gannon, who totaled 194 all-purpose yards in his final game as a collegian. "It feels great after the last two games did not go our way. We will always remember this game rather than the losses."

Both UAlbany and Wagner had opportunities to share the conference title coming into the contest. However, Central Connecticut State ended those dreams when the Blue Devils rallied in the fourth quarter for the second straight week in a 14-13 road win against Saint Francis, Pa.

"Everything is kind of sublime right now," said UAlbany's Dave Nicomini, a senior outside linebacker who had eight tackles. "We have had a great run (as seniors) and will miss each other. But we battled through some adversity and we are leaving on a good note."

Paw Prints: UAlbany has posted seven or more wins in eight of their 11 seasons at the NCAA FCS Division I level ... the Great Danes finished with six victories conference play for the sixth time, including three years in a row ... UAlbany is now 5-1 following a bye week as a FCS program ... wide receiver Tim Bush had five catches for 77 yards in his final game and finishes his career as the school's all-time receptions leaders (147) ...senior linebacker Justin Brancaccio had a team-high nine tackles and is eighth on career charts with 261 ...

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Field Goal On Game's Final Play Leads Robert Morris to 13-10 NEC Football Win Against UAlbany

Albany, N.Y. - Garrett Clawson made a 20-yard field goal with no time remaining in leading Robert Morris to a 13-10 Northeast Conference victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 7 at University Field. The Great Danes had their school-record 12-game home winning streak halted.

Robert Morris (3-6, NEC 3-3) drove nearly the length of the field for the game-winning points, holding on to the ball for the final five minutes and 38 seconds. Senior quarterback Camdin Crouse, who came off to bench earlier in the contes, engineered the 14-play drive. He found D.J. Zalewski with a 22-yard pass into UAlbany territory and later connected with tight end Shadrae King on a third-down throw for 13 yards. Crouse's sneak over the right side set up a first-and-goal at the Great Danes' 3-yard line. After both teams used their final timeout, Clawson broke the tie.

"It probably helps to have an experienced quarterback on the last drive, but that didn't change how we played," said UAlbany senior linebacker Justin Brancaccio, who had a game-high 12 tackles, including three for losses. "We had good practices this week and we were prepared and comfortable with our checks. We just didn't make any plays."

The Colonials, who began the season with six consecutive losses, posted their third straight win with a big special teams play on the opening kickoff when Anthony Coleman went 58 yards to the UAlbany 32. Starting quarterback Jeff Sinclair mixed the run and pass on a nine-play scoring march. The freshman capped the series with a 3-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jeff Link, who came wide open in the left flat.

UAlbany (6-4, NEC 5-2) used a blocked punt by safety Emerson Kinsey to get on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Sean Kenny would eventually kick a 24-yard field goal. The Colonials answered with seven seconds left before halftime as Clawson booted a 39-yarder for a 10-3 lead. The field goal was set up by Crouse's 31-yard completion to split end Sherrod Evers. Crouse completed 6 of 7 attempts for 90 yards on the day.

The Great Danes, who were in contention for a third straight conference title coming into the contest, were bottled up by the Robert Morris' defense throughout the game. UAlbany put together a 12-play march to start the third quarter, but that was wiped out when inside linebacker Elias Navarro picked off an Esposito pass at his own 12-yard line. The Colonials held their opponent to 217 total yards, including 43 on the ground, the lowest total in an NEC contest since the Great Danes joined the conference in 1999.

"They did a pretty good job of shutting down our running attack," said Esposito, whose team could have been in a tie for first place in the conference standings after Wagner upended Central Connecticut, 32-27. "There were opportunities but we didn't take advantage. As seniors we are embarrassed and disappointed."

UAlbany was able to break through in the fourth quarter and drew even at 10 apiece with 7:58 to play. After a short punt, Esposito hit tailback Justin Gannon with a 27-yard screen pass on first down. The senior quarterback later connected with tight end Paul Booker for an 11-yard touchdown. Esposito completed 13 of 31 attempts for 168 yards, but was intercepted twice.
Robert Morris' Myles Russ, who saw limited time last week with an ankle injury, led all rushers with 87 yards on 31 carries. Sinclair was 9-of-20 through the air for 50 yards.

"The challenge (in coaching) is to pick up your team after a devastating loss," explained UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team had its 18-game conference win streak stopped in a 31-29 thriller the previous week. "I didn't get them (the team) off the deck and the opening kickoff set the tone. They won the line of scrimmage, for the most part, on both sides of the ball. This is a bitter loss."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football's Sparano, Simpson & Woods Chosen to ESPN The Magazine District I All-Academic Football Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Washington, D.C. - University at Albany's Tony Sparano leads a group of three student-athletes who have been chosen to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Football Team, as voted by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Sparano was selected for the second straight year, while Chris Simpson and Bobby Woods made their first appearance on the all-academic squad. Each athlete moves on to the University Division national ballot and that team will be announced on Nov. 24.

Sparano, a senior defensive end from Colleyville, Texas, has a 3.40 cumulative grade point average in history with a minor in political science. He earned his B.A. last May and is enrolled in UAlbany's graduate school. In nine starting assignments this season, Sparano has 23 tackles and two fumble recoveries. He had a career-high seven tackles against nationally-ranked Massachusetts in September. Sparano, the son of the Miami Dolphins' head coach, has twice been named to the Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Simpson, a senior inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., has a 3.97 GPA in physics. He is enrolled in the school's 3+2 engineering program and will also earn an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in May 2010. Simpson was a member of the 2008 FCS Athletic Directors' Academic All-Star Team. Simpson is fourth on the UAlbany squad in tackles with 51 and has two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He had a career-best 11 tackles in his team's upset of No. 20 Maine this year.

Woods, a junior punter from Sayreville, N.J., owns a 3.58 GPA in accounting with a minor in business administration. He is averaging 35.7 yards per punt with five 50-plus kicks, five touchbacks and seven punts inside the 20-yard line. He booted a 77-yarder in the season opener at Georgia Southern, the second longest in school history. Woods came to the UAlbany program after Iona College dropped the sport of football.

UAlbany (6-3, NEC 5-1) is currently in second place in the conference standings. The Great Danes meet league-rival Robert Morris on Saturday in their final home game of the season.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Rolls Past Monmouth In NEC Matchup - UAlbany Sports 2009

West Long Branch, N.J. - Vinny Esposito and Andrew Smith each passed for one touchdown and ran for another in leading UAlbany to its sixth consecutive win in a 35-10 triumph over Monmouth in Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Kessler Field.

UAlbany (6-2, NEC 5-0) scored twice off mistakes in a two-minute-and-14-second span early in the third quarter to build a 28-3 margin. Fullback Mike D'Urso fumbled a completed pass when Jon Morgan forced the turnover and inside linebacker Chris Simpson fell on the ball at the Monmouth 35. Smith, a redshirt freshman who plays both quarterback and tailback, then threw a reverse pass to a diving Tim Bush for a 31-yard touchdown with 12:11 remaining in the period.

After the Great Danes held Monmouth on downs, safety Jake Ciccarello broke through clean in the middle of the line to block Jack Daniels' punt attempt. Justin Gannon, a senior tailback, immediately bolted off left tackle and scampered to the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown run. Gannon, who accounted for 159 all-purpose yards, was subbing for injured starter David McCarty, who sprained an ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

"My job is to try and duplicate what he does," said Gannon, who rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries. "I worked on getting the right mind set at halftime and being ready if he did not play. We were able to get on top of them and finish it off."

Monmouth (3-4, NEC 2-2) closed the gap to 28-10 with 4:05 left in the third quarter when senior tailback David Sinisi, out of a wildcat formation, scored on a 3-yard run. Sinisi, who ran 24 times for 131 yards, became the conference's all-time leading rusher on the drive and now has 4,526 career yards.

The Great Danes, who last tasted defeat in league play to end the 2006 campaign, answered with a nine-play scoring sequence. Gannon's 43-yard kickoff return jump-started the series. Smith, who ran for 36 yards on 11 attempts, added a 15-yard scamper, before Esposito crossed the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 13:42 to play. Esposito completed 12 of 19 passes for 117 yards in the contest.

"We had some big plays on special teams and then started to dominate things," explained UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who posted his 240th career win at the collegiate level and has a team that has won a conference-record 18 in a row against league opposition. "You don't always have a chance to make history in any sport. Now we have to get ready for a good opponent next week."

Monmouth broke up a scoreless deadlock in the second quarter when strong safety Kendall Haley picked off an Esposito pass that was intended for Bush. The Hawks, who started at the Albany 29-yard line, were eventually stopped as Dave Casale, the team leader with 11 tackles, broke up a third-down pass. Jake DelVento connected on a 32-yard field goal to put his team ahead.

"We take pride in being able to stop the run and then defend the pass," offered junior defensive end Mike Kelly, who had five tackles and contributed on one of his team's four sacks in a return to his hometown. "We are fortunate to able to rotate guys on the defensive line. That keeps us fresh and also able to talk about things on the sideline."

The Great Danes regrouped on their next possession with an 8-play, 70-yard march. Esposito delivered a 41-yard strike to a streaking Bush on the right sideline that set up first-and-goal at the Monmouth 7. Bush finished with seven receptions for 114 yards. On third down, Esposito found wide receiver John Lullen crossing in the middle of the end zone with a 5-yard scoring pass for a 7-3 lead.

Gannon's 16-yard punt return placed UAlbany's offense in Hawk territory to start its next series. The Great Danes moved eight plays to reach paydirt and grab a 14-3 advantage. McCarty, who left the game at the intermission with 64 yards on nine carries, busted through the middle on a 27-yard jaunt to the Monmouth 1. In a third-and-goal situation, Smith would bounce off the left side on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Quarterback Vinny Esposito Named Northeast Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Vinny Esposito has been named the Northeast Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 19 by the conference office. Esposito's performance led his team to last Saturday's 20-17 NEC victory against Bryant.

Esposito, a senior quarterback, connected on 25 of 32 passes for a season-high 280 yards and two second-half touchdowns. He delivered a 34-yard strike to Jason Poore in a fourth-and-seven situation for a 13-9 lead with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter. In the final period, Esposito flipped a 5-yard scoring pass to Andrew Smith for an 11-point cushion. His third-down completion in a seven-play, non-scoring drive kept a series alive that effectively ran out the clock over the final three minutes. Esposito broke the school's single-game receptions record, as Joe Savino completed 24 passes against Stony Brook on Nov. 19, 1995.

A native of Demarest, N.J., Esposito became the third player in the program's history to reach the 5,000-career mark in total offense with 5,127 yards. He ranks second in both passing yards (4,893) and touchdown passes (32) on UAlbany's all-time lists.

Paw Prints: UAlbany (5-2, NEC 4-0) has set a conference record with their 17th consecutive win against league opponents ... the Great Danes have put together a five-game win streak overall, tying the third-longest mark in the program's Division I FCS history ... TB David McCarty has run for 100-plus yards in five straight games after gaining 118 on the ground last week ... McCarty, who has 24 career 100-yard games, went over the 4,000-yard plateau (4,105) as a collegian ... WR Tim Bush tied the program's FCS standard with 10 receptions (135 receiving yards) vs. Bryant ... WR Jason Poore had a career game with eight catches for 73 yards and one TD ... FS Dave Casale had a team-high eight tackles and two pass break-ups, as the UAlbany defense held Bryant to 30 net rushing yards, the lowest figure by an opponent since Nov. 4, 2006 ... head coach Bob Ford recorded his 230th career win at the school ... Miami Dolphins' head coach Tony Sparano attended the Bryant game to watch his sons, Tony and Andy, start at defensive end and offensive guard, respectively.

Courtesy: UA Sports

University of Albany FCS Football Sets Conference Football Win Streak Record in 20-17 NEC Victory Against Bryant - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Vinny Esposito passed for a season-high 280 yards and two touchdowns, as UAlbany held off Bryant, 20-17, in Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 17 at University Field. The Great Danes established a conference record by winning their 17th straight against league opponents.
Bryant (3-3, NEC 2-1) grabbed a 9-6 early in the third quarter off a gadget play. Running back Mike Canfora moved to his right, off a fake reverse, and fired a perfect 13-yard strike to a wide open Vinton South for the go-ahead touchdown. The extra-point was blocked.
UAlbany (5-2, NEC 4-0) took advantage of a mistake later in the period. Tim Mastrino muffed a punt return and Great Danes' safety Jake Ciccarello made the recovery at the Bryant 37. After the Bulldogs' defense stiffened to set up a fourth-and-seven situation, Esposito hit Jason Poore on a post pattern in the middle of the field. The 6-foot-6 receiver split the safeties and reached across the goal line to complete a 34-yard scoring play.
"We knew they were doubling (Tim) Bush and the safety was spying," said Poore, who caught his first touchdown of the season. "Vinny (Esposito) put the ball where only the receiver could catch it. I reached across the line and looked to see if the referee's hands were up."
The Great Danes would stop Bryant on its next offensive series when inside linebacker Chris Simpson sacked quarterback Mike Croce on fourth down at the Albany 40. UAlbany then marched 60 yards to paydirt for a 20-9 lead. Esposito, who completed 25 of 32 pass attempts, hit Tim Bush for 32 yards in a third-down situation to keep the sequence alive. After tailback David McCarty rushed three straight times to the Bryant 5-yard line, Esposito found Andrew Smith in the right flat for the touchdown on the first play of the final quarter.
"The receivers have been consistent and it has been a matter of me getting them the football," explained Esposito, who established the program's single-standard for completions, breaking a mark that had stood since 1995. "Like most teams they are putting eight guys in the box to stop the run, so we took advantage with our size and speed on the outside. This gives me confidence as we head down the stretch.
The Bulldogs, who are in their first season as a conference member and second year at the Division I FCS level, did not go away quietly. UAlbany's defense snuffed out a scoring threat deep in its own end of the field. Cornerback Ross Bertrand came up with a sack on first down, before Croce's fourth-down pass fell incomplete at the Great Danes' 23-yard line.
But Bryant's Michael Morgan partially blocked a punt, following a high snap from center, to set up his team's next possession. The Bulldogs made use of a face-mask penalty that wiped out a sack and senior tailback Jerell Smith finished off the eight-play drive with a 2-yard scoring run over right tackle. Croce threw a two-point conversion pass to Mastrino in cutting the margin to 20-17 with 3:13 remaining.
After Poore leaped into the air to recover the on-side kick, the Great Danes were able to basically run out the clock. Esposito hooked up with Bush, who had 10 receptions for 135 yards, on a third-down pass. McCarty, who lugged the ball 38 times for 118 yards, was the primary rusher as his team extended its home win streak to 12 straight.
"We had to battle because that was a game we could have lost five or six times (at any point)," offered UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who picked up his 230th career win at the school. "They did a great job of shutting down our run game. Vinny (Esposito) and Jason (Poore) executed that fourth-down pass and that probably was the turning point in the game."
In a first half where the defenses controlled the action, as the two teams combined for three field goals. UAlbany's Herb Glass made attempts from 39 and 19 yards to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the second quarter. Bryant's field goal was set up by Aaron Bryant's blocked punt.
Croce, a sophomore, completed 22 of 35 passes for 234 yards, but was sacked five times. Smith, who came into the contest averaging nearly 109 rushing yards, was held to 44 on the ground. UAlbany's Poore had a career day with eight receptions for 73 yards.

Paw Prints: UAlbany has won 17 in a row against Northeast Conference opponents, breaking Robert Morris' standard of 16 straight from 1998-2000 ... QB Vinny Esposito posted the third-best single-game passing yardage total (280) in the program's FCS history ... Esposito's 25 completions (32 attempts) eclipsed Joe Savino's single-game mark of 24 that was established on Nov. 19, 1995 ... UAlbany has no turnovers for the second time this season ... UAlbany's defense held Bryant to 30 net rushing yards, the lowest figure by an opponent since Nov. 4, 2006 ... WR Tim Bush tied the program's FCS single-game receptions record with 10 catches for 135 yards ... Bush has five 100-yard receiving games as a collegian

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football's Justin Gannon Named Northeast Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Justin Gannon has been selected Northeast Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 12 by the conference office. Gannon accounted for 100-plus all-purpose yards for the third time this season in last Saturday's 55-10 conference win over Duquesne.

A senior tailback from Sussex, N.J., Gannon scored on a 78-yard punt return in the first quarter that handed the Great Danes a 13-0 lead. He became the first Great Dane to return a punt for a touchdown at the Division I FCS level. Troy Rhett last scored on a runback on Oct. 31, 1998. Gannon, who ranks sixth among the nation's leaders with an 18.8 punt return average, also rushed nine times for 31 yards. He totaled 119 all-purpose yards.

Gannon, who has totaled 100 or more all-purpose yards seven times as a collegian, climbed to No. 15 on the school's career all-purpose running list with 2,297 yards.

Paw Prints: UAlbany (4-2, NEC 3-0) has reached the win column 16 straight times against conference opponents, the nation's longest Division I FCS streak ... the Great Danes have tied a NEC standard established by Robert Morris from 1998-2000 ... UAlbany has also won a school-record 11 in a row at home ... the Great Danes tied their second-highest point total (55) in league play against Duquesne ... David McCarty (LaSalle Institute) has run for 100 or more yards in four consecutive games with his 145-yard, two-touchdown effort last week ... McCarty moved to third in rushing (3,987) and sixth in points (240) on the conference's career lists ... McCarty is 11th nationally among the FCS leaders in rushing at 105.7 yards per game ... UAlbany hosts Bryant, who is in its first year as an NEC member, on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1:00 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Uses Big Plays to Record 55-10 Homecoming Victory Against NEC-Rival Duquesne - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - David McCarty rushed for two touchdowns and Justin Gannon scored on a 78-yard punt return as UAlbany pounded out a 55-10 Northeast Conference victory over Duquesne before a homecoming crowd of 6,255 on Saturday, Oct. 10 at University Field. The Great Danes have won 16 straight against conference opponents, the nation's longest Division I FCS streak.

The Great Danes put together a 28-point second quarter en route to a 41-7 halftime lead. Leading 13-0 in the second period, outside linebacker Jon Morgan picked up a fumble and sprinted 56 yards to paydirt. After the defense held the Dukes on fourth down at its own 17-yard line, UAlbany's offense came up with a quick strike. Quarterback Vinny Esposito found Tim Bush on a deep post and after hauling in the pass the senior wide receiver eluded a defender on a 81-yard scoring play.

"We practice game-changing plays on Thursdays each week," said Morgan, a redshirt freshman who had four tackles. "We are trying to get turnovers (as defenders). I am not sure that deflated them, but our defense has been holding tight in the red zone."

UAlbany (4-2, NEC 3-0) wrapped two scores around a Duquesne touchdown over the final minute of the second half. Esposito scrambled from the pocket on a 5-yard scoring run to finish off a drive that was aided by a personal foul penalty. The Dukes Jay Spinks hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in the period. But after recovering an onside kick, Duquesne quarterback Connor Dixon was picked off by safety Jake Ciccarello whose 26-yard return gave the Great Danes a final offensive play with one second left. Esposito lofted a 32-yard pass to the back of the end zone and wide receiver John Lullen came up with the touchdown catch to complete a bizarre ending to the period.

UAlbany marched 80 yards in eight plays with the second-half kickoff for a 48-7 advantage. McCarty, a senior tailback, carried five times in the offensive series. He broke through the middle of the line and bounced off two tackles on a 23-yard touchdown run with 11:58 left in the quarter. McCarty left the game after that point with 145 rushing yards on 18 attempts.

In the first quarter, McCarty, who reached the 100-yard mark for the fourth consecutive game, capped an 80-yard drive with a one-yard blast for a 6-0 lead after the extra-point was missed. His 33-yard scamper set up the game's first points. Esposito, who connected on 7 of 12 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, keyed the scoring sequence with a 30-yard completion to tight end Paul Booker. Justin Gannon then electrified the home crowd with his punt return for a touchdown, the first by a Great Dane since 1998, as he broke several tackles on his way up the right sideline.

"We knew they would be punting with the wind," explained Gannon, who racked up 119 all-purpose yards. "(Kareem) Cooper had a great block on their inside gunner. Everyone did their job. The special teams have stepped up this year and it's because those players on the unit have another year of experience."

Dixon, a Michigan State transfer, completed 20 of 31 passes for 194 yards. Duquesne (2-4, NEC 1-2) added Eric Duale's 33-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. The Great Danes, who won their 11th consecutive home game, closed the out the scoring on quarterback Andrew Smith's 58-yard dash early in the final period.

"We won the battle at the line scrimmage, ran the football, special teams came up with some plays, and the defense gave us another stellar performance," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose club tied the NEC record for consecutive wins against conference opponents, established by Robert Morris earlier in this decade. "We had many big and explosive plays today."

UAlbany 55, Duquesne 10 (Oct 10, 2009)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Duquesne (2-4,1-2) vs. Albany (4-2,3-0)

Date: Oct 10, 2009 • Site: Albany, N.Y. • Stadium: University Field • Attendance: 6255

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Duquesne 0 7 3 0 10
Albany 13 28 7 7 55


SCORING SUMMARY DUQ -ALBANY
1st 07:35 ALBANY David McCarty 1 yd run (Herb Glass kick failed)
7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:19 0 - 6
06:03 ALBANY Justin Gannon 78 yd punt return (Herb Glass kick)
0 - 13
2nd 07:06 ALBANY Jon Morgan 56 yd fumble recovery (Herb Glass kick)
0 - 20
03:39 ALBANY Tim Bush 81 yd pass from Vinny Esposito (Herb Glass kick)
2 plays, 83 yards, TOP 0:40 0 - 27
00:53 ALBANY Vinny Esposito 5 yd run (Herb Glass kick)
6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:50 0 - 34
00:15 DUQ SPINKS, Jay 12 yd pass from DIXON, Connor (DUALE, Eric kick)
4 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:38 7 - 34
00:00 ALBANY John Lullen 32 yd pass from Vinny Esposito (Herb Glass kick)
1 play, 32 yards, TOP 0:01 7 - 41
3rd 11:58 ALBANY David McCarty 23 yd run (Herb Glass kick)
8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:02 7 - 48
06:22 DUQ DUALE, Eric 33 yd field goal
7 plays, 30 yards, TOP 2:32 10 - 48
4th 13:39 ALBANY Andrew Smith 58 yd run (Herb Glass kick)
3 plays, 74 yards, TOP 1:21 10 - 55


Kickoff time: 1:07 pm
End of Game: 3:57 pm Total elapsed time: 2:50
Referee: Jim Winterberg
Umpire: Terry Moore Linesman: A. Solimine Line judge: John Wilson Back judge: M. DeBerdine Field judge: Mark McCarter Side judge: Ron Reidinger Scorer: Matt Chmura
Temperature: 57 • Wind: WNW 15 • Weather: Partly cloudy


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football's David McCarty Selected Northeast Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. -- University at Albany's David McCarty been selected Northeast Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Oct. 5 by the conference office. McCarty, a 2009 Walter Payton Award candidate, has won or shared the weekly award eleven times during his career.

A senior tailback from Gansevoort, N.Y., McCarty rushed for a season-high 170 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's 27-6 conference victory over Saint Francis, Pa. He reached the end zone on a 5-yard run in the first quarter and added a 14-yard dash around left in the third period. McCarty, who left the game early in the fourth quarter, posted his third consecutive 100-yard rushing effort and 22nd of his career. He has run for 170-plus on eight occasions during his career.

McCarty, who earned All-America recognition as a junior, moved to second on UAlbany's career list with 32 rushing touchdowns. He is now fourth among the NEC's all-time leaders in rushing yards (3,842) and is tied for sixth in scoring with 228 points.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes recorded season-highs in rushing yards (257) and total yards (389) against Saint Francis ... UAlbany has reached the win column 15 straight times against conference opponents, the nation's longest Division I FCS streak ... outside linebacker Dave Nicomini moved above the 200-career plateau in tackles (203) ... tailback Justin Gannon rushed for a career-high 72 yards at Saint Francis ... Gannon had a season-best 135 all-purpose yards, the sixth time he has toppled the 100-mark as a collegian ... FS Dave Casale climbed into a tie for sixth in career interceptions (11) ... UAlbany entertains NEC-rival Duquesne on Oct. 10 as part of Homecoming & Family Weekend ... Time Warner Cable (TW3) will televise the contest, with kickoff set for 1:07 p.m. ... J.T. Herfurth, a consensus first-team All-America offensive tackle who played in the 2001 Hula Bowl, will be inducted into UAlbany's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 9 ...

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Uses Strong Defense and Healthy Rushing Attack to Record 27-3 NEC Victory - UAlbany Sports 2009

Loretto, Pa. - Senior tailback David McCarty rushed for a season-high 170 yards and two touchdowns in leading UAlbany to a 27-6 Northeast Conference victory over Saint Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at DeGol Field. The Great Danes extended their conference win streak to 15 in a row, the nation's longest at the Division I FCS level.

UAlbany (3-2, NEC 2-0) played a dominating style of defense for the third consecutive game by holding Saint Francis (1-4, NEC 0-2) to 255 total yards, including 79 on the ground, and forcing three turnovers. The Great Danes have held their opponents without a touchdown for 10 straight quarters.

"I thought we came into the game focused," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose defense has limited NEC opposition to less than 100 rushing yards in six of its last seven outings. "The defense played superb and ran aggressively to the football. I thought this was the first time (this season) that the offensive line was dominant at the line of scrimmage."

The Great Danes scored on their opening three possessions and stopped Saint Francis inside their own 5-yard line en route to a 17-6 halftime advantage. UAlbany marched 74 yards in 11 plays with the opening kickoff. Quarterback Vinny Esposito completed a three-down pass to wide receiver Tim Bush to set up a first-and-goal situation. McCarty then blasted through the middle on a 5-yard touchdown run.

After the teams traded field goals, the Red Flash drove from their own 28 deep into UAlbany territory. Freshman quarterback John Kelly, a Penn State transfer, hooked up with Omar Winston on a third-down, 23-yard completion to keep the series alive. But on fourth-and-one at the five-yard line, Kelly's quarterback sneak was stopped short by outside linebacker Rich Duff and defensive end Tony Sparano.

"We saw on flim that they liked to sneak in that situation," explained Duff, who had a team-high nine tackles. "I read it and dove for him. The goal-line stand against Maine has motivated our defense. We are always trying to slow down the run game and not give up big plays."

The Great Danes then put together a 14-play, 95-yard scoring drive that featured McCarty's running and Esposito's passing. The senior quarterback finished off the sequence when he tossed a 9-yard scoring pass to Bush, who was wide open in the left flat, for a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Saint Francis' Josh Thiel added his second field goal of the game when he connected on a 18-yarder with 3:30 to play before the intermission.

UAlbany's defense helped extend its team's margin late in the third quarter when outside linebacker Dave Nicomini forced a fumble after a complete pass and defensive end Marc Wargo fell on the ball at the Saint Francis' 22. The Great Danes staying on the ground to push out to a 24-6 lead. On third-and-two, McCarty bounced around left end and sprinted to the end zone untouched on a 14-yard score. Herb Glass added his second field goal, a 27-yarder, with 10:50 to play in the final period.

"We were a little worried about Saint Francis coming into the game," offered McCarty, who reached the 100-yard rushing mark for the third straight contest and 22nd time as a collegian. "Their defense and team are certainly better than they have been. Everyone was focused and didn't take them lightly."


UAlbany's Justin Gannon, a senior tailback, added a career-high 72 rushing yards on 11 attempts. Esposito completed 13 of 25 passes for 132 yards, while free safety Dave Casale recorded his 11th career interception. Saint Francis' Kelly threw for 176 yards, but had two passes picked off.. The Red Flash, who has respectable showings against nationally-ranked opponents in non-league play, was coming off a triple-overtime loss last week.

UAlbany 27, St. Francis 6 (10/03/2009 at Loretto, Pa.)

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Albany.............. 10 7 7 3 - 27 Record: (3-2,2-0)
St. Francis......... 3 3 0 0 - 6 Record: (1-4,0-2)



Scoring Summary:
1st 11:43 ALBANY - David McCarty 5 yd run (Herb Glass kick), 11-74 3:17, ALBANY 7 - SFU 0
07:31 SFU - THIEL, Josh 30 yd field goal, 8-31 4:12, ALBANY 7 - SFU 3
05:11 ALBANY - Herb Glass 38 yd field goal, 8-59 2:20, ALBANY 10 - SFU 3
2nd 09:16 ALBANY - Tim Bush 9 yd pass from Vinny Esposito (Herb Glass kick), 14-95 6:08, ALBANY 17 - SFU 3
03:30 SFU - THIEL, Josh 18 yd field goal, 6-19 2:48, ALBANY 17 - SFU 6
3rd 01:04 ALBANY - David McCarty 14 yd run (Herb Glass kick), 3-22 1:20, ALBANY 24 - SFU 6
4th 10:50 ALBANY - Herb Glass 27 yd field goal, 10-41 3:57, ALBANY 27 - SFU 6


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football's Dave Nicomini Chosen Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Dave Nicomini has been chosen Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Sept. 28 by the conference office. The Great Danes, who opened NEC play with a 22-9 victory over Sacred Heart on Sept. 26, limited their opponent to 267 total yards, including 71 on the ground, and forced three turnovers.

A senior outside linebacker from Newton, N.J., Nicomini totaled five tackles, one sack, two hits for a loss and a career-high three pass break-ups. He came up big in a pair of first-and-goal situations that held the Pioneers to two field goals. He broke up a first-down pass and added a third-down sack in the second quarter. Nicomini made a first-down tackle for a loss on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the final period.

Nicomini missed all of the 2008 season following major reconstructive knee surgery. A first-team All-NEC selection in 2007, he is currently tied for fourth among the Division I FCS leaders in tackles for a loss at 2.0 per game. Nicomini, who has 29 tackles overall, climbed to No. 19 on the school's career tackles list with 198.

Football Notes: The Great Danes set a school record with their 10th consecutive home win, eclipsing a mark that was first established in 1973-74 ... UAlbany has reached the win column 14 straight times against conference opponents, the nation's longest FCS streak ... senior tailback David McCarty is tied for second in career touchdowns (30) and has 21 100-yard rushing games as a collegian ... inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio moved above the 200-career plateau in tackles (204) ... tailback Justin Gannon toppled the 2,000-career mark in all-purpose yards and is 19th on the program's chart with 2,043 ...


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Holds Off Sacred Heart, 22-9, in Northeast Conference Opener at University Field - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - David McCarty rushed for 105 yards and one touchdown in leading UAlbany to a 22-9 victory over Sacred Heart in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 26 at University Field. The Great Danes, who went unbeaten in league play the last two seasons, extended their conference win streak to 14 in a row.

Sacred Heart (0-3, NEC 0-1) closed within 16-9 on Matt Fisher's 23-yard field goal with 9:00 remaining. The Pioneers appeared to stop UAlbany (2-2, NEC 1-0) on the next offensive series. But on fourth-and-three at their own 43-yard line, the Great Danes' Andrew Smith ran for the first down off the faked punt.

Quarterback Vinny Esposito later threw a third-down, 31-yard completion to wide receiver Tim Bush to keep the sequence on schedule. McCarty then lugged the ball five consecutive times to the end zone with 3:58 to play. The senior tailback, who has run for 100 or more yards 21 times as a collegian, scored on a 4-yard blast, as he bounced off a defender and across the goal line.

"We were fortunate to win, but we had no turnovers and played fairly well on defense and in the kicking game," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose program has the longest Division I FCS conference win skein. "We are struggling to sustain a drive on offense. On the other hand, the defense controlled things."

UAlbany's defense set up a pair of field goals in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. Cornerback Jean Juste forced a fumble following a completed pass and defensive end Tony Sparano recovered, leading to Herb Glass' 24-yard kick. Linebacker Chris Wilk's first career interception and 30-yard return led to another field goal.

After Sacred Heart's Fisher kicked a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter, Emerson Kinsey broke clean on a 50-yard kickoff return. The Great Danes put together a nine-play scoring drive to build a 13-3 advantage. Esposito, who connected on 11 of 22 attempts for 144 yards, hit on three third-down passes to keep the series alive. He moved to his right and found Justin Gannon with a short pass in the flat and the senior tailback used his blocking en route to a 24-yard score.

Outside linebacker Rich Duff picked off starting quarterback Dale Fink late in the first half and rumbled 34 yards deep into SHU territory. Glass added his school-record third field goal, a 24-yard kick. The Pioneers sliced the deficit to 16-6 in the third quarter behind reserve signal-caller Tyler McKeon, who passed for 118 yards. The 12-play, 76-yard drive ended in Fisher's 21-yard field goal.

The Pioneers, who were coming off a bye week, looked to record their first win in this series since 2001 with a serious threat in the final period. McKeon, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, fired a 27-yard completion to Rich Rossi inside the Albany 1-yard line. However, the Great Danes stopped two rushing plays and sacked McKeon on third down to force Fisher to make his third field goal.

"We can't bend or break in that situation," explained UAlbany outside linebacker Dave Nicomini, who totaled five tackles, one sack and three pass break-ups. "It's an attitude that you are not going to let them in (the end zone). We made the plays."

The Great Danes, who broke a school mark that had stood since 1974 with their 10th consecutive home win, held the visitors to 267 total yards, including 71 on the ground. Gannon added 55 rushing yards to his touchdown reception.

"Their defense moved around with twists and stunts and that may have bothered us and messed with us up front," offered Esposito, whose club has won nine of 11 NEC openers since joining the league in 1999. "We moved the ball, but didn't finish drives. We are always trying to establish the run, but I need to get our receivers the football. I am confident we can do that."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Battles Sacred Heart in Northeast Conference Opener at University Field on Saturday - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany tangles with Sacred Heart in the Northeast Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 26 at University Field. Kickoff is 4:00 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM. Tickets are available by contacting the UAlbany Ticket Office, 518-442-4683.

The Pioneers are coming off a bye week after beginning the 2009 campaign with losses to Marist and No. 25 Holy Cross. Sacred Heart was picked fourth in the NEC preseason coaches poll and had six players chosen to the preseason all-conference squad. Head coach Paul Gorham led the program to its highest win total since 2001 in last year's 8-3 season.

Quarterback Dale Fink earned first team All-NEC recognition last season. Fink, who has connected on 60 of 97 pass attempts for 509 yards and two touchdowns, is the school's all-time leader in TD passes (48). Wide receiver Steve Tedesco, an honorable mention preseason All-American, holds the program's records for career receptions (179) and touchdown catches (27). Running back Garry Coles is 15th among the nation's leaders in all-purpose yards at 155.5 per game. Coles, a first-team all-league return specialist, scored on a 99-yard kickoff return against Holy Cross.

Defensive end Bill O'Brien (6-4, 260) and strong safety Andre Isla were each named second-team all-conference one year ago. Chris Mandas, a sophomore inside linebacker, leads the team in tackles with 15. Cornerback Titus McIntosh has 13 tackles and four pass break-ups.

The Great Danes broke through into the win column in last Saturday's thrilling come-from-behind victory against No. 20 Maine. UAlbany rallied from a double-figure deficit in the fourth quarter for the first time as a Division I FCS program. Quarterback Vinny Esposito threw a 22-yard scoring pass to tight end Paul Booker before Herb Glass kicked a field goal that closed the gap to 16-13. Chris Simpson, the ECAC and NEC defensive player of the week, forced a fumble on a third-down option run that led to David McCarty's winning touchdown, a 24-yard run with 2:02 remaining.

Head coach Bob Ford, who is sixth among the Division I FCS all-time leaders in career victories with 235, has led UAlbany to four NEC championships this decade. The Great Danes have won eight of 10 conference openers since joining the league in 1999.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football's Chris Simpson Chosen ECAC Division I FCS Defensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Centerville, Mass. - University at Albany's Chris Simpson has been chosen ECAC Division I FCS Defensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Tuesday, Sept. 22 by the conference office. He was named the Northeast Conference co-defensive player of the week on Monday. The Eastern College Athletic Conference has 317 member institutions, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina.

Simpson, an inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., provided the game-changing play in last Saturday's 20-16 upset of No. 20 Maine at University Field. The senior forced a turnover that led to the game-winning touchdown when he hit Maine's Mike Brusko and the quarterback fumbled while running option on a third-and-two play at the Black Bears' 28-yard line. Simpson made a career-high 11 tackles with two hits for a loss and one pass break-up. UAlbany held the Black Bears to 83 of its 267 total yards in the second half.

Simpson, who has 21 tackles in three starting assignments this season, has appeared in 38 career games as both an inside and outside linebacker. He also excels in the classroom and was a member of the 2008 FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star squad and an NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany TB David McCarty & ILB Chris Simpson Earn Northeast Conference Weekly Football Awards - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's David McCarty and Chris Simpson have been selected for weekly Northeast Conference football awards for their performances in last Saturday's upset of nationally-ranked Maine, as announced on Monday, Sept. 21 by the conference office. McCarty was chosen NEC offensive player of the week, while Simpson was named co-defensive player of the week.

McCarty, a senior tailback from Gansevoort, N.Y., scored the winning touchdown on a 24-yard run with 2:02 remaining to complete his team's comeback in the fourth quarter. The Great Danes, who defeated a national top-25 program for the first time since the 2006 season, trailed, 16-3, heading into the final period.

McCarty carried 27 times for 109 yards, a school-record 20th time he has toppled the 100-mark in a game during his career. He moved to second on the program's career scoring chart with 210 points and climbed to third in rushing touchdowns (29). McCarty is currently fourth among the NEC's all-time rushers with 3,567 yards and is tied for eighth in scoring.

Simpson, a senior inside linebacker from Victor, N.Y., forced a turnover that led to the game-winning touchdown in the 20-16 victory. He hit Maine's Mike Brusko and the quarterback fumbled as he ran the option on a third-and-two play at the Black Bears' 28-yard line. Simpson made a career-high 11 tackles with two hits for a loss and one pass break-up. The Great Danes held the nation's 20th-ranked Division I FCS team to 83 of its 267 total yards in the second half.

By overcoming its largest fourth-quarter deficit as a FCS program, UAlbany ended a string of seven straight losses to top-25 teams. The Great Danes begin Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26 against Sacred Heart at University Field. Kickoff is 4:00 p.m.

Football Notes: UAlbany last rallied from a 10-plus point deficit in the fourth quarter on Nov. 21, 1998 in the Eastern Football Conference championship game against American International ... the Great Danes last won against a top-25 team when they defeated Delaware (#11) and Central Connecticut State (#23) in consecutive weeks during the 2006 season ... WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs) became the third UAlbany receiver to reach the 100-career receptions mark ... Bush has 100 catches for 1,226 receiving yards as a collegian ... sophomore safety Jake Ciccarello was the unsung hero in the Maine victory with an interception and blocked punt in the fourth quarter and the key hit on a goal line stand in the second period.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Dominates 2nd Half And Rallies To A 20-16 Victory Against #20 Maine - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. -- David McCarty scored on a 24-yard run with just over two minutes remaining, as UAlbany rallied in the fourth quarter to upend nationally-ranked Maine in the Great Danes' home opener before 4,823 fans on Saturday, Sept. 19 at University Field. The Black Bears were ranked No. 20 by Sports Network and No. 19 in the FCS Coaches polls.

UAlbany (1-2) trailed 16-3 heading into the final period, but finally gained some momentum with a 77-yard drive. Quarterback Vinny Esposito, who overcame a school-record four interceptions and a lost fumble on a first-quarter sack, fired a 41-yard strike to Tim Bush to jump-start the sequence. Esposito later rolled to his left and lofted a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Paul Booker, who outbattled two Maine defenders.

After a blocked punt, UAlbany tried for the home run, but Esposito's pass, on a flea-flicker play, was picked off by strong safety Jerron McMillian, his second of the game. Despite the Great Danes fifth turnover, the defense stiffened and Jordan Waxman got off just a 17-yard punt under pressure. The short kick set up Herb Glass' 33-yard field goal and cut the deficit to 16-13 with 3:45 remaining.

UAlbany's defense came up with another key play on Maine's next possession. Quarterback Mike Brusko ran a third-down option to the right and inside linebacker Chris Simpson forced the ball loose with one of his 11 tackles and defensive end Tony Sparano recovered at the Maine 26. McCarty knifed his way through the middle and cut back to his left two plays later on the winning touchdown.

"I just took my read steps, came unblocked, and made a play," said Simpson, who turned in a career-high effort. "Our defense picked it up (in the second half) and we played with emotion and confidence."

The Black Bears, who led 16-0 at halftime, marched to the UAlbany 37 in the final minute behind the arm of Warren Smith, but safety Jake Ciccarello picked off a fourth-down pass at the 13-yard line to preserve the comeback win.

"The defense was lights out in the second half," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team allowed just 92 of Maine's 276 total yards after the intermission. "The offense started to catch fire and the blocked punt helped. We battling for respectability, just taking it one play at time. But it was a phenomenal win."

In the opening half, Maine was in complete control after forcing the home team to commit four turnovers. Defensive back Steven Barker sacked Esposito and lineman Al Serena recovered the fumble on the sideline. Sophomore tailback Derek Session, who ran 21 times for 76 yards, scored on a 20-yard run over the left side for a 7-0 lead.

The Black Bears upped their advantage to 14-0 with Brusko tossed a 15-yard scoring pass to wideout Landis Williams early in the second quarter. UAlbany safety Emerson Kinsey came on a blitz from the right side and Williams beat his defender down the sideline. Defensive end Jordan Stevens added a safety when he sacked Esposito in the end zone with 2:50 left in the first half. UAlbany drove to the Maine 3-yard line in the closing seconds of the period, but on second-and goal, Esposito's pass over the middle was deflected and Barker came up with the diving interception.

McCarty rushed for 109 yards on 27 carries, the 20th time he has reached the century mark as a collegian. Esposito went 14-of-28 through the air for 186 yards, as his team defeated a FCS top-25 opponent for the first time since 2006.

"I am sore from my hip down," said McCarty, who has battled through injuries throughout the season. "The emotions were running through me and I saw how hard everyone was playing. I saw the hole (on the winning touchdown) and I wasn't touched."


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information