UAlbany faces Elon, Union at Morrisville

ALBANY, N. Y. » The University at Albany football team faces a Top 25 opponent for the second consecutive week when it travels to face Elon at 2 p. m. Saturday in North Carolina.

Both the Great Danes ( 3- 1, 1- 0) and Phoenix ( 3- 1, 1- 0) moved into the national polls after wins this past weekend in their Colonial Athletic Association openers.

UAlbany toppled No. 7/ 8 Villanova, 19- 10, in overtime at Casey Stadium for the program’s first win over a Top 10 opponent. The victory moved the great Danes back into the national rankings, at No. 19 in the STATS Poll and No. 22 in the Coaches Poll, for the first time since they were No.

24 in the preseason STATS poll.

Elon, meanwhile, has beaten nationally ranked teams in back- to- back games, taking down No. 6/ 8 Richmond, 36- 33, on the road this past Saturday and No. 16 Charleston Southern the week before. The Phoenix entered the rankings for the first time since 2010, coming in

at No. 23 in the STATS Poll and receiving votes in the Coaches Poll.

UAlbany’s Eli Mencer, who returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown in overtime to clinch the win over Villanova Saturday, was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week.

The Great Danes have also gotten good production form true freshman running back Karl Mofor, who’s seen significant action in three games in place of starter Elijah IbitokunHanks, who’s out indefinitely

with a knee injury.

The 5- foot- 8, 219- pound Mofor, from Greenbelt, Md., nearly rushed for 100 yards inWeeks 1 and 2. He posted 99 yards and scored a TD at OldDominion and ran for 98 yards and two more scores againstMorgan State.

Mofor made his first career start against Villanova. He gained 43 yards on 19 carries while also catching five passes for 49 yards. He scored on a 4- yard touchdown run.

Union travels to

The Union football team is 3- 1 with three straight wins for the first time since 2012 and off to its best start since 2009.

This week, the Dutchmen are on the road for the third straight game and also facing a new opponent for the fourth time this season. Union is atMorrisville State Saturday at 1 p. m.

The Dutchmen will return home October 7 to open league play vs. St. Lawrence.