UAlbany's David McCarty Enjoys Classic 2008 GirdIron Classic Bowl Game Against University of Jacksonville

University at Albany junior tailback David McCarty put on his game face — literally —before the Gridiron Classic on Saturday, smearing eye black in menacing diagonal streaks across his cheeks.

McCarty, who plans to enlist in the Marines after he graduates next year, said it's the same disguise that Marine Corps scout snipers wear in the field.

"If you know who the Marines are and what they're about, you kind of a get a sense of why I did it," McCarty explained. "They're the meanest fighting force that we've got."

McCarty had that same take-no-prisoners mentality on the field, rushing for a career-high 271 yards and four touchdowns as UAlbany pounded Jacksonville into submission in a 28-0 rout before 2,264 fans at chilly University Field.

McCarty ran for scores of 16, 1, 3 and 77 yards and the Northeast Conference champion Great Danes (9-3) ended their season on an eight-game winning streak.

UAlbany also gained some closure after losing at Dayton 42-21 in last year's Gridiron Classic, which pits the NEC champion against the Pioneer Football League winner.

Head coach Bob Ford capped his 36th varsity season at UAlbany with his 234th career win, the most among active coaches in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

"I said to the squad that you want to put an exclamation point on a season, and that's what we needed to do," Ford said.

McCarty was named the game MVP after rushing for the second-most yards in UAlbany history, behind only Tom DeBlois' 286 on Nov. 15, 1975, when the Great Danes were a Division III program.

McCarty, a La Salle Institute graduate, immediately gave his trophy to his offensive line, which bludgeoned the smaller Dolphins.

"They really do deserve it," he said. "They've given me these awesome numbers."

He finished the season with a program-record 1,852 rushing yards.

UAlbany junior free safety Dave Casale of Troy observed Jacksonville (9-4) seemed extremely uncomfortable in a game-time temperature of 34 degrees with 12 mile-per-hour winds.

"They were cold," Casale said. "You could see them crossing their arms, trying to keep themselves warm before plays, and you're not going to be successful when you're doing that."

The Great Danes set the tone from the outset as Justin Gannon returned the opening kickoff 44 yards to the Dolphins' 47. The Great Danes offense covered the rest in six plays, culminating in McCarty's 16-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with just 2:36 elapsed.

Then Jacksonville lost 20 yards on its first three plays as UAlbany's Mike Kelly and Chris Blais each had a sack.

The Great Danes defense posted its first shutout in two years against a Dolphins offense that was averaging 33.4 points entering the game.

"We really didn't do anything that different," senior safety Dave West said. "We came out with an attitude. It's our last game of the year, and all the seniors were jacked up and came out ready to play."

UAlbany had a 7-0 halftime lead that could have been much bigger if not for sloppy play that included McCarty's first lost fumble of the year at the Jacksonville 4 with 13:17 remaining in the half.

The Great Danes finally gained breathing room in the third quarter, after junior quarterback Vinny Esposito threw a 30-yard completion to diving wide receiver Tim Bush at the Jacksonville 12. Three plays later, McCarty scored standing on a 1-yard run for a 14-0 lead with 4:19 remaining in the quarter.
"To be honest with you, I was kind of surprised they called (the pass) because it was second down," said Bush, a senior from Saratoga Springs. "I thought it was going to be a touchdown, but either Espo underthrew it or the wind took it a little bit."

Esposito completed 15 of 25 passes for 141 yards with two interceptions.

Jacksonville freshman quarterback Josh McGregor underthrew several passes and finished 10-for-25 for 113 yards and one interception. UAlbany also limited Dolphins running back Rudell Small, a 1,300-yard rusher, to 46 in 16 carries.

Mark Singelais can be reached at 454-5509 or by e-


By MARK SINGELAIS

MVP David McCarty Scores Four Touchdowns in UAlbany's 28-0 Gridiron Classic Bowl Victory Over Jacksonville University

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – David McCarty rushed for a career-high 271 yards and four touchdowns in leading UAlbany to a 28-0 victory over Jacksonville in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. The exempted postseason game features the champions of the Northeast Conference and Pioneer Football League.

UAlbany (9-3) scored on its first possession after returned the opening kickoff 44 yards past midfield. Quarterback Vinny Esposito, who connected on 15 of 25 attempts for 141 yards, hooked up with wide receiver Tim Bush on a 17-yard completion into the red zone. McCarty, a junior tailback, then broke a couple of tackles en route to a 16-yard touchdown run.

Both offenses fizzled for the remainder of the first half as the teams combined for five turnovers. UAlbany defensive end Mike Kelly sacked quarterback Josh McGregor from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Dave West. The Great Danes returned the favor when McCarty was stripped by cornerback Oscar Johnson inside the Dolphins’ five-yard line. Jacksonville (9-4) had an opportunity to draw even with less than two minutes left in the period, but halfback J.J. Laster fumbled at the UAlbany 19 and outside linebacker Emerson Kinsey pounced on the loose ball.

The Great Danes, who lost in this same game last year, finally uncorked their attack midway through the third quarter. Esposito fired a 30-yard completion to Bush, who made a diving catch at the Dolphins’ 12. McCarty then carried three straight times, including a one-yard blast over left guard into the end zone for a 14-0 advantage.

The NEC champions scored twice in the final stanza to put the game away. UAlbany held on to the ball for six-plus minutes in a 12-play march. McCarty and Gannon did most of the work as their team pounded out 312 of its 456 yards on the ground. After Esposito kept the drive alive with a third-down pass to wideout Daniel Bocanegra, McCarty pushed his way over right guard on a 3-yard TD run. McCarty, who had 33 carries, then capped the program’s second-highest single-game rushing total on a dazzling 77-yard scamper with 7:25 remaining.

“In the second half we came to play,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose squad went unbeaten for the second consecutive year against conference opponents. “I had no clue that we could shut them down. They have too much speed on the perimeter and have put up pinball numbers. Our defense stepped to the plate. They have been consistent and great at shutting down the run.”

UAlbany’s defense forced four turnovers and held its sixth consecutive opponent under 300 total yards as Jacksonville managed just 228, including 84 rushing. The Great Danes, who posted their eighth consecutive win, became the first NEC team to win the Gridiron Classic, as PFL champions San Diego and Dayton has won the previous two contests, respectively.

“As a whole unit, I think these three weeks (since our last game) we practiced harder than we ever practiced before,” explained McCarty, who was voted the Gridiron Classic MVP. “We were really afraid of their speed, but I think the cold took away their quickness. The offensive line deserved the MVP trophy. They are the ones that gave me all of the offensive numbers.”

Jacksonville’s McGregor, the PFL’s top offensive freshman, completed just 10 of 25 pass attempts for 113 yards and was sacked three times. Rudell Small rushed for 46 yards on 16 carries on a grass field that froze overnight and stayed hard with temperatures hovering around 34 degrees during the game. The Dolphins reached the postseason by rallying to beat Dayton in winning their first-ever league championship two weeks ago.

UAlbany and Jacksonville Square Off in 2008 Gridiron Classic Bowl at University Field Today

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- UAlbany, the Northeast Conference champion, battles Jacksonville, the Pioneer Football League champion, in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

The game will be televised by YES Network (DirectTV-Channel 631) to a regional and national audience. Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream audio and video nationwide. Fans can also listen to the game on Fox Sports 980-WOFX AM.

Jacksonville (9-3, PFL 7-1) rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Dayton, 19-14, on Nov. 22 to win its first league championship. Head coach Kerwin Bell, a former NFL and CFL quarterback, is in his second season. QB Josh McGregor, the PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year, has passed for 2,331 yards and 24 touchdowns. RB Rudell Small, a first-team all-league selection, is averaging 109.8 yards on the ground. SS Tremaine Mack has scored three defensive touchdowns this season. He also earned first-team all-conference honors.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) wrapped up its second consecutive conference title on Nov. 15 by knocking off Wagner in the regular-season finale. The Great Danes, who are making their second straight Gridiron appearance, have used a strong rushing attack and solid defensive play to reach the postseason. TB David McCarty is the nation’s third-leading rusher with 1,581 yards. QB Vinny Esposito has thrown for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more. Tom Pandolf, a two-time first-team all-conference defensive tackle, has 63 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Bob Ford is first among active NCAA FCS coaches with 233 career victories.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

YES Network (DirectTV-Ch. 631, national; Time Warner Cable-Ch. 67, local) will televise the Gridiron Classic to a regional and national audience. Bob Lorenz will handle the play-by-play and former NFL and Princeton offensive lineman Ross Tucker is the analyst.

INTERNET COVERAGE

Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream both video and audio to a nationwide audience. New York City radio personality Paul Dottino is the play-by-play announcer, while New York Post sportswriter Paul Schwartz will serve as analyst.

RADIO COVERAGE

Fox Sports 980 (WOFX-AM) will again air the entire University at Albany football schedule. Rodger Wyland, the sports director at WNYT-TV (NewsChannel 13), serves as the WOFX Radio play-by-play announcer with Jon Phelps working as the color analyst.

The YES Network will televise live the third annual Gridiron Football Classic: UAlbany vs Jacksonville

New York, NY -- The YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) will televise live the third annual Gridiron Classic college football game on Saturday, December 6, pitting University at Albany (N.Y.), champion of the Northeast Conference, against Jacksonville University (Fla.), the Pioneer Football League champion. The game, to be telecast at 1:30 pm ET, will take place at University Field on the UAlbany campus. Both schools participate in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly Division I-AA.

YES is available throughout New York and Connecticut and in parts of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania on cable, on Verizon’s FiOS and AT&T’s U-Verse television services, and via DirecTV (channel 631 for both standard definition and high-definition). YES is available nationally on DirecTV (channel 631) and on AT&T’s U-verse (channel 702).

UAlbany won its second straight NEC title this year by going undefeated in league play for the second consecutive season (7-0, 8-3 overall). Its seven-game win streak is tied for third longest among FCS teams. The Great Danes’ offense is led by senior tailback David McCarty, UAlbany’s single-season and career record holder in rushing yards.

Jacksonville won its first Pioneer Football League title this fall with a 7-1 conference record despite being picked to finish fifth prior to the season. The Dolphins, coached by former University of Florida standout quarterback Kerwin Bell, are 9-3 overall and, like Albany, are riding a seven-game win streak. This is only Jacksonville’s 11th season of fielding a football team.

Pioneer Football League representatives have won the first two Gridiron Classics, with Dayton defeating UAlbany 42-21 in 2007 and San Diego besting Monmouth 27-7 in 2006.

The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country the past five years, features exclusive telecasts of the 26-time World Champion New York Yankees and the New Jersey Nets In addition to the Yankees and Nets, YES televises college games, as well as Emmy Award-winning biography, interview and magazine programs. Further YES Network information can be found at www.yesnetwork.com.

NEC Football Champion UAlbany Awaits Opponent for Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – After winning its second consecutive Northeast Conference football championship last Saturday, UAlbany awaits its opponent for the Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason game that the Great Danes will host on Saturday, Dec. 6 at a time to be determined. The Pioneer Football League champion will be decided on Nov. 22 when Dayton travels to Jacksonville.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) became just the second team in NEC history to go undefeated against conference opposition in back-to-back seasons with last Saturday’s 30-11 victory over Wagner. The Great Danes, who own the longest active Division I FCS conference streak with 13 straight wins in league play, captured their fourth NEC crown and third championship outright.

A clash of high-caliber defenses and offenses will be featured in Saturday’s Pioneer League championship game. Dayton (9-2, PFL 6-1) is ranked No. 1 in rushing defense (53.5 ypg), plus is ranked fourth in points allowed (15.0 ppg) and fifth in total defense (250.4 ypg). DE Scott Vossler (37 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and S Scott Vossler (67 tackles, 10 PBUs) lead the unit. Jacksonville (8-3, PFL 6-1) is 14th nationally in scoring offense (34.7 ppg) and 22nd in total offense (402.9 ypg). RB Rudell Small, the league’s offensive player of the week, is averaging 112.1 rushing yards and has scored 15 touchdowns. The Dolphins are coached by former University of Florida and professional quarterback Kerwin Bell.



UAlbany Paw Prints

... UAlbany will make its second consecutive Gridiron Classic appearance on Dec. 6 ... Dayton defeated the Great Danes, 42-21, at Welcome Stadium last year ...

... the Great Danes have posted seven straight wins, tying the third longest active streak among NCAA Division I FCS programs ... James Madison (9) and Appalachian State (8) are the lone teams with longer streaks ...

... UAlbany has the longest active FCS conference streak with 13 straight wins against league opponents ...

... UAlbany is the second team in NEC history to go unbeaten against league opponents in back-to-back seasons ... Robert Morris accomplished that feat in 1999 and 2000 ...

... the Great Danes have tied their highest single-season win total at the FCS level ... UAlbany went 8-4 in both 2002 and 2007 ...

... TB David McCarty (LaSalle Institute) shattered five school records last Saturday, including career rushing yards (3,082) and single-season rushing yards (1,581) ...

... WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs) caught 10 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns vs. Wagner, and broke Dan Gmelin’s single-season receptions record (58) ...

... McCarty has won or shared NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors five times this season ...

... the Great Danes' defensive unit has held five consecutive opponents under 300 total yards ...

... FS Dave Casale (Troy) set the the program’s FCS single-season standard with his sixth interception ...

UAlbany Wins Second Consecutive Northeast Conference Football Championship in 30-11 Triumph

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – David McCarty rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown and Tim Bush caught a pair of scoring passes, as UAlbany won its second consecutive Northeast Conference championship with a 30-11 victory over Wagner on Saturday, Nov. 15 at University Field. UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) became the second team in league history to go undefeated against conference opposition in back-to-back seasons.

The Great Danes, who have earned a Gridiron Class berth against the Pioneer League champion on Dec. 6, led 9-5 in the second quarter, but then ripped off 21 unanswered points to take control. In a penalty-filled game, UAlbany executed an 11-play, 91-yard scoring drive late in the period. Quarterback Vinny Esposito hit fullback Chris Kenneally with a 30-yard pass to move across midfield, before delivering a pair throws to Bush to get into the red zone. McCarty then busted through the left side and dragged a couple of tacklers across the goal line on an 11-yard run with 1:16 left before halftime. The junior tailback set the program’s career and single-season rushing records on the touchdown blast.

The two teams traded punts in the early part of the third quarter until Wagner (3-8, NEC 1-6) advanced near midfield. But quarterback Matt Abbey was picked off in the left flat by cornerback Daniel Avery and the redshirt freshman raced up the sideline on a 56-yard touchdown return. The Great Danes pushed out to a 30-5 lead with 12:49 remaining in the final period. Esposito, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 197 yards, hooked up with Bush on a 27-yard touchdown strike. Bush hauled in a career-high 10 passes for 141 yards in the contest.

“It is hard to beat anybody,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team won its fourth NEC title and third conference crown outright. “We have all seen favorites get upset and we have all seen good football teams lose. It is hard to beat anybody, it is hard to go undefeated, and it is hard to go undefeated two years in a row when you are picked to win the championship.”

In the second quarter, the Great Danes snapped a 3-3 deadlock with a short drive that was set up by Justin Gannon’s 32-yard kickoff return. After two runs by McCarty, Esposito connected with Bush on a 35-yard post pattern for a touchdown. But the extra point attempt was blocked by linebacker Jason Haskins and defensive back Jorel Joseph returned the loose ball 82 yards for a defensive two-point conversion.

The Seahawks, who were held to 154 total yards, scored with three minutes remaining in the final stanza when reserve quarterback Tyler Newberry tossed a 2-yard pass to tight end Morgan Mizell. Wagner’s three quarterbacks combined for 11-of-37 through the air and were intercepted three times.

“When we (the seniors) first came in we realized how much work it takes (to win a championship), said defensive tackle Tom Pandolf, who had four tackles and helped limit Wagner to 85 net yards on the ground. “You wouldn’t want to go out any other way. We just tried to treat each game like a championship.”

UAlbany’s defense kept its fifth consecutive opponent under 300 total yards in a sparkling effort. Freshman tailback Prince Young managed just 65 rushing yards on 17 carries. Linebacker Chris Simpson and defensive end Eddie Delaney each had a team-high seven tackles, as their squad tied the program’s Division I FCS record for single-season wins and extended its winning streak to seven in a row, tying another FCS mark.

McCarty shattered five school records on the day, including the single-season mark for 100-yard rushing games with 10 and the career standard with 18. ““It feels great,” he said. “This is something to be proud of, but we still have another game to play. It shows what kind of offensive line you have. I tell them every day that they do a heckuva of a job. All of the guys on the perimeter do a great job. I praise the whole offense.”

UAlbany and Dayton Tangle in Second Annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 1

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Dayton, Ohio – Northeast Conference champion UAlbany will meet Dayton, the Pioneer Football League co-champion, in the second annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET. WOFX-980 AM will air the bowl game live from Dayton’s Welcome Stadium. A live streaming video freed of the game and live stats will be available cost-free courtesy of www.daytonflyers.com.

The Great Danes, who have won seven in a row, wrapped up their first NEC championship in four years with a 49-14 victory over Central Connecticut State on Nov. 17. UAlbany (8-3, NEC 6-0) became the fifth in league history to go undefeated in conference play. The Great Danes are making their first postseason appearance since 2002.

Dayton (10-1, PFL 6-1) shared the Pioneer League title with San Diego, but defeated the Toreros in the regular-season head-to-head matchup to earn a Gridiron Classic berth. The Flyers, who are No. 24 in the current Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches’ Poll, are ranked first in the mid-major polls.

The Gridiron Classic also features the top active FCS coaches in career victories. Dayton’s Mike Kelly, who has a 245-54-1 record, is in his 27th season at the helm. He had led the program to seven league championships. Bob Ford, who is in his 35th varsity campaign, has a 225-161-1 career mark. Ford, the NEC coach of the year, has guided the Great Danes to three NEC crowns.

Second Annual Gridiron Classic

Northeast Conference Champion vs. Pioneer Football League Champion

UAlbany (8-3) vs. #24 Dayton (10-1)

Saturday, Dec. 1, 1:00 p.m., Welcome Stadium, Dayton, Ohio

GRIDIRON Live Video Stream

Northeast Conference Link to Live Video Stream & Live Stats:

NEC Football Championship Game - UAlbany vs C.Connecticut

2007 NEC Football Standings
including games played through 11/10/2007

1. Albany.......... 5-0, 7-3
2. C.Conn......... 4-1, 6-4
3. Wagner........ 3-3, 6-4
4. R.Morris....... 3-3, 4-6
5. Monmouth..... 3-3, 3-6
6. St.Francis..... 2-4, 2-7
7. Sacred Heart.. 0-6, 3-8

UAlbany has clinched a share of its first conference title since 2003. The Great Danes can win the championship outright at Central Connecticut State this Saturday. Kickoff is 12 noon.

NorthEast Conference Championship Game
UAlbany vs. C. Connecticut State
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Time: 12:00 pm
Where: New Britain, CT - CCS Campus - Arute Field
Directions: Take I-91 South to I-84 West to Exit 39A, to Rt. 9 South. Take Exit 29 off Rt. 9 South to Ella Grasso Boulevard and take a right turn to the University.
CCS Ticket Office: (860) 832-2583

The winner of the game will represent the NEC in the Gridiron Classic on Dec. 1 against Dayton, the Pioneer Football League co-champion.