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'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 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