Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany returns home to face Northeast Conference-leader Duquesne on Saturday, Oct. 8, a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at University Field. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye providing the coverage.
The Dukes, who are receiving votes in both national polls, own their longest winning streak in four years. Duquesne (4-1, NEC 2-0) won its fourth straight in a 31-28 victory over Bryant last Saturday. Quarterback Sean Patterson directs a multiple attack that leads the conference in scoring (33.8 ppg) and is fifth nationally in total yards (470.8 ypg). Patterson, who can run and pass, has completed 73 of 129 attempts for 1,073 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Larry McCoy is one of the nation's top running backs and is third nationally at 139.0 yards per game. He has 15 career 100-yard rushing games, including 153 against Bryant. Offensive tackle Ron Dunn (6-5, 305) is one of four returning starters on the line. Isaac Spragg is the leading receiver with 28 catches for 345 yards and three TDs. Connor Dixon, who moved from quarterback late in the 2009 campaign, was granted a sixth year by the NCAA just prior to the season. Dixon has 17 receptions for 422 yards and eight TDs.
The Dukes, who employs a 3-4 scheme, are second among the FCS leaders in total defense (259.6 ypg) and fifth in passing yards against (128.4 ypg). Safety Serge Kona and defensive end Alex Inda (6-2, 252) each earned a spot on the preseason All-NEC squad. Kona, who has 17 tackles and three pass break-ups, switched from linebacker where he was an 11-game starter last year. Inda has started the last 26 games on the defensive line.
UAlbany (2-2, NEC 1-0) opened conference play with a 41-20 road victory against Saint Francis, Pa. The Great Danes scored 40-plus points for the second straight game. Quarterback Dan Di Lella tied the program's FCS single-game record with three touchdown passes. Cole King, the NEC rookie of the week, caught two scoring passes and totaled more than 100 receiving yards. Andrew Smith, a junior tailback, and Omar Osbourne, a redshirt freshman, rushed for 113 and 89 yards, respectively.
Safety Jake Ciccarello, who equaled a season-high with nine tackles, led a UAlbany defensive unit that limited Saint Francis to 252 total yards, the lowest figure by an opponent this year. Kyle Harbridge, the nation's leader rusher entering the contest, was held in check with just 32 yards on the ground.
Paw Prints: UAlbany and Duquesne are meeting for the fifth time ... the Dukes won last year's contest, a 28-17 decision in Pittsburgh, Pa. ... Duquesne was picked second in the NEC preseason coaches' poll ... TB Andrew Smith has run for 100 or more yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career ... the Great Danes have accounted for 200 or more yards running and passing in consecutive weeks, a first in the program's Division I FCS history ... PK Herb Glass has moved to fourth on the all-time scoring list with 194 points and is tied for first in career PATs (101) ... Paul Layton is fourth nationally with a 46.3 punting average ... Bob Ford needs one win to record his 250th career victory at the collegiate level.
