Mason Named NEC Defensive Player Of The Week

SOMERSET, N.J. -- University at Albany football player Justinian Mason has been named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the league office Monday.

Mason, a native of Mason, Ohio, made a play that changed the course of Saturday's nationally-televised affair at Bryant and propelled Albany to a 31-14 NEC road victory. With Bryant threatening for the go-ahead score late in the third quarter of a 14-14 game, Mason produced the "Play of the Day." He picked off a 3rd-down pass at UAlbany's 25-yard line and took it 75 yards in the opposite direction for the tie-breaking touchdown with 1:19 left in the third. The strong safety recorded two solo tackles and a pass breakup in addition to his highlight-reel interception return as the Great Danes won for the fifth consecutive time in NEC play. Mason's pass breakup came against preseason all-NEC receiver Jordan Harris with Bryant operating at midfield early on in the final quarter. The third-year Great Dane was a part of a defensive effort that limited Bryant to 202 yards of total offense, including a NEC single-game season-low 27 rush yards.

The honor marks the sixth Player of the Week award for the Great Danes this season, and second in Mason's career.

UAlbany (5-1, 3-0 NEC) is back in action Saturday when the Danes welcome Saint Francis (Pa.) to University Field for Homecoming Weekend. The NEC game will kick off at 1:00 p.m.