Loretto, Pa. - UAlbany starts Northeast Conference play with a road trip to Saint Francis, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff at DeGol Field is set for 1:00 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye providing the coverage.
Head coach Chris Villarrial, a former NFL All-Pro offensive lineman, has 18 starters returning. QB John Kelly, a former Penn State walk-on, runs his team's pro-style offense. He has thrown for 561 yards and four touchdowns and added 122 yards and two scores on the ground. RB Kyle Harbridge is the nation's leading rusher at 154.3 yards per game. The junior was the Sports Network National Co-Player of the Week when he set an NEC rushing record with 346 yards in a come-from-behind 50-49 victory over Morehead State in September. Florida State transfer A.J. Alexander is averaging 112.0 all-purpose yards and 22.0 per kickoff return. RT Jordan Kelly (6-2, 291) and C Jacob Smith (6-0, 288) are the top returnees on the offensive line.
Saint Francis (1-3, NEC 0-2) employs a multiple-scheme defense. Anthony Bowman, a strongside inside linebacker, is third among the NCAA FCS leaders at 13.0 tackles per game. Bowman, who has 52 tackles this season, made 16 stops in last week's league-loss to Duquesne. SS Jake DeMedal and CB Calvin Bain are productive in the secondary. DeMedal has 26 tackles and two pass break-ups. Bain, a true freshman, totals 16 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Placekicker Josh Thiel and punter Andrew Penska are solid specialists.
UAlbany (1-2, NEC 0-0) found the win column for the first time this season in last Saturday's 44-21 victory against Columbia. The Great Danes defeated an Ivy League opponent for the second year in a row. TB Andrew Smith may have had his best day as a collegian, as he rushed for a career-high 155 yards on 19 carries and accounted for three touchdowns. QB Dan Di DiLella completed 15 of 26 attempts for 208 yards and two TDs, while WR Ryan Kirchner hauled in a pair of scoring passes.
The Great Danes' defense helped break the game open last week by causing three turnovers that led to a 20-point blitz over a span of one minute and 46 seconds during the third quarter. ILB Dave Plungas, who has 22 tackles in three starting assignments, started the run with his first career interception. DT Ocieka Bakou set up the next touchdown when he sacked Columbia quarterback Sean Brackett and forced a fumble.
Paw Prints: UAlbany and Saint Francis are meeting for the 13th time ... the Great Danes have won nine of 12 NEC openers since joining the conference in 1999 ... WR Ryan Kirchner tied the program's FCS single-game mark with two touchdown receptions against Columbia ... PK Herb Glass, who became the school's career leader in field goals last week, needs four points to move to fourth on the all-time scoring list ... Paul Layton is second nationally with a 47.3 punting average ... DE Dean Mercuris had three tackles and one sack last week, as he made his first start in a Great Danes' uniform ... Bob Ford needs one win to record his 240th career victory as UAlbany's head coach ... Saturday's weather forecast features a sign of winter with temperatures in the mid-40's with a chance of snow showers.
