UAlbany opens CAA competition against William and Mary Saturday
ALBANY, NY >> UAlbany opens conference play with William and Mary at Casey Stadium Saturday afternoon as the Great Danes look to build off of last week’s win over Lafayette at home.
In the CAA opener for both teams, the Great Danes will host their annual “Pink Game” in support of the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
UAlbany Athletic Director Mark Benson, who is participating in the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign. With a donation, fans were able to honor a loved one affected by cancer by having his or her name worn on the nameplate of a student-athlete’s jersey.
Last week, the Great Danes handled Lafayette with ease and picked up the 36-7 win. Donovan McDonald returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to set the tone and Karl Mofor carried the ball 25 times for a careerhigh 135 rushing yards. He also caught four passes for 58 yards, 48 of which came on a touchdown catch in the first quarter.
Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler (19-for-25, 212 yards) threw four touchdown passes. He now has thrown eight TD passes over the past two games.
McDonald’s 98-yard kickoff re
turn was the longest in program history.
William and Mary fell to East Carolina University 19-7 last week. William and Mary allowed 480 yards to ECU in the loss as the Pirates had a score in each quarter. Quarterback Kilton Anderson threw for 94 yards and a pick in the loss. The William and Mary run game was led by Tyler Crist, who rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown.
The loss was William and Mary’s second FBS loss of the season. The Tribe fell to Virginia 52-17 in week two. Freshman QB Hollis Mathis, who has passed for 299 yards and rushed for 211, is a two-time CAA Rookie of the Week.
UAlbany’s offense has produced 71 points and 942 yards over the past two games and Undercuffler has thrown eight TD passes (four in each game) and for 610 yards over the past two weeks. He ranks fifth nationally and second in the CAA with 12 TDs for the season. Receiver Juwan Green has 20 catches for 303 yards and six touchdowns in the past two games as well.
Running back Karl Mofor has rushed for 100 yards in two straight games, including a career-high 135 this past Saturday against Lafayette. He’s averaging 5.66 yards per carry, which is third-best in the league.
On the defensive side of the ball, AJ Mistler, the reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Week, and Levi Metheny are tied for the team lead with 36 tackles each.
The defense has forced 10 turnovers (six fumble recoveries, four interceptions) and scored twice over the first four games. In the opener at Central Michigan, Eli Mencer had a strip sack, fumble return for touchdown, and against Bryant, Jarren Williams hauled in a deflected pass and ran 63 yards for a Pick 6. UAlbany already has forced eight fumbles. In Week 4, the UAlbany defense held Lafayette to just 90 yards on the ground.
UAlbany has won three straight at Casey Stadium, dating back to last season’s 25-23 win over No. 10 Stony Brook in the season finale and followed by this year’s wins over Bryant and Lafayette. The win over Bryant marked UAlbany’s sixth straight win in a home opener.
To open CAA competition, UAlbany is 4-2, including 2-1 at home, since joining the league in 2013.
UAlbany sticks to conference competition following this weekend. The Great Danes travel to Richmond and Towson before returning to Albany to take on Rhode Island on October 19.