New Britain, Conn. - UAlbany travels to Central Connecticut State in a Northeast Conference clash on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Arute Field. Kickoff is 12:00 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye providing the coverage.
     The Blue Devils, who shared last year's conference championship, are coming off a last-minute 28-21 loss at Duquesne. Central Connecticut State (2-5, NEC 1-3) has dropped four in a row, its longest losing streak since the beginning of the 2003 campaign. The Blue Devils, who have been plagued by 19 turnovers through seven games, were picked first in the NEC preseason poll.
     QB Gunnar Jespersen has the ability to pass and run. He has thrown for 1,089 yards and five touchdowns and adds 328 yards and five scores on the ground. WR Deven Baker and WR Raul DeBenedittis are the top targets. Baker has 31 receptions for 373 yards and four TDs. RB Chris Tolbert leads the team in rushing with 374 yards and three touchdowns. RB Brian Fowler has 354 rushing yards and two scores. Brendan Brackett (6-4, 285) is a second-team all-conference right tackle.
     CCSU's multiple defensive scheme is ranked fourth nationally in passing yards allowed (145.7 ypg) and is 28th overall in total defense (326.9 ypg). DE Charles Williams (6-2, 235) is one of six starters returning on defense. The second-team All-NEC selection has 38 tackles and 5.5 sacks, plus averages 1.57 hits for a loss per game. He had a pair of sacks against Duquesne last week. LB Lorenzo Baker and SS Antwione Reese lead the team in tackles with 45 and 43, respectively. LB Lawton Arnold (6-2, 230) was voted 2009 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
     UAlbany (4-2, NEC 3-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the NEC standings following last week's 28-17 victory over Robert Morris. The Great Danes own a four-game win streak for the first time in two years. Quarterback Dan Di Lella, the conference player of the week, threw for a career-high 279 yards and three first-half touchdowns. WR Ryan Kirchner, the team's leading receiver, hauled in a 27-yard scoring pass in the second quarter. TB Dillon Romain scored on a one-yard blast early in the final period and had 100 or more all-purpose yards for the second straight game.
     Eddie Delaney, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end, led his team efforts in limiting Robert Morris to 293 total yards. Delaney had four tackles, a career-high 1.5 sacks, and broke up a third-down pass that held the visitors to a field goal. Jon Morgan and Dave Plungas, a pair of junior inside linebackers, are the top tacklers with 49 and 44, respectively, on the season.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Central Connecticut State are meeting for the 16th time ... the Great Danes have won 10 of the previous 15 contests , but CCSU has reached the win column in four of the last seven encounters ... the last three games in the series have been decided by three points or less, including last year's 30-27 overtime affair ... DT Zach Gallo (102) became the fifth active UAlbany defender to join the 100-career tackle club last week ... FS Justin Hassan (96) is also poised to reach the plateau ... WR Ryan Kirchner needs 18 receiving yards to become the 12th UAlbany player to register 1,000 for his career.