For the first time ever, the Great Danes and Orange will square off
ALBANY, N.Y. » The University at Albany football team travels west to take on in-state rival Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
Saturday’s game at Syracuse will be streamed on the big screen of Casey Stadium for UAlbany fans to watch for free. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to sit on the field and enjoy the action. Concessions will be made available for everyone who comes. Gates are set to open just before the game at 11:45 a.m.
This weekend’s game will be the first meeting between UAlbany and Syracuse. The Orange are the second opponent this season that UAlbany has never faced in prior seasons, with the Great Danes playing NDSU back in week one.
Syracuse has split its first two games of the season, defeating Ohio University on the road 29-9, and falling to Rutgers a week ago in the team’s home opener, 7-17. Saturday’s game will be the second of three consecutive games at the Carrier Dome for the Orange. Syracuse owns a 73-78-11 (.485) overall record against FBS and FCS members located in the state of New York and has won each of its past 11 contests against opponents from the Empire State. The team’s last loss against a program from New York came against Army West Point in 1986.
“It’s not a stage that’s too big for us. Do they have a few advantages over us as an FBS program? Absolutely,” said UAlbany Head Coach Greg Gattuso. “I think
they have all the pressure on them, but we will definitely need to compete at a high level to win.”
Jackson Ambush leads the defense in tackles with 18 total, including 11 solo. Tyler Carswell hauled in the defense’s first interception of the year last week after catching the ball off a URI deflection. He ran the pick back 34 yards in what
was a momentum-shifting play for UAlbany. The Great Danes lost to Rhode Island last week, 16-14.
Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler is spreading the love to his receivers, with eight of his teammates hauling in passes over the team’s first two games. Tyler Oedekoven and Roy Alexander lead the team with eight receptions each. Rookie wideout Roy Alexander has made quite the impact during weeks one and two. Against NDSU, Alexander took in four receptions
for 113 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown strike. The rookie followed it up in his Casey Stadium debut with four more receptions for 54 yards. He leads the team with 122.5 all-purpose yards per game.
Running back Karl Mofor is still looking to find his stride in 2021. The AllAmerican back is averaging 49.5 yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry. He has also taken in four receptions for an additional 8.0 ypg.
The Great Danes have had a tough start to the
2021 season. UAlbany faced No. 4 NDSU (now No. 5) on the road to start the season before immediately jumping into conference action against Rhode Island last week. Syracuse will be no easy feat in week three. The schedule doesn’t let up either, with the Great Danes traveling to No. 6 Delaware after a week four bye, traveling to William & Mary for another road game in week six, and finally returning home to face No. 12 Villanova in week seven.