By Brandon Vanenburg | October 4, 2021
The University at Albany football team played their arguably best game of the season against one of the FCS' top-10 teams but fell just short on the road against the #9 Delaware Blue Hens, with the final score being 20-15.
The offense once again could not get it going as Jeff Undercuffler struggled throughout the day. He went 12-30 for 193 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The running game also struggled as the Great Danes had 77 net yards of rushing lead by running back Karl Mofor, who had 69 yards rushing.
The UAlbany defense was on point in the first half, only allowing three points in the first quarter and ten points in the first half led by freshman linebacker Jackson Ambush who had ten tackles including five solo tackles and defensive back Christian Lewis who had nine tackles including four solos.
The Great Danes looked to potentially tie the game at the start of the fourth, but an errant throw led to an interception for Delaware. It was the first turnover of the game. Moments later, Tyler Carswell got the ball right back for UAlbany with a pick of his own, setting up a drive beginning in Delaware territory.
The Great Danes would capitalize on that drive, grabbing three more points on Burns' third field goal of the afternoon, this one from 29 yards out.
Delaware came back with a strong response, and with 3:37 left in the game, the Blue Hens punched in their second touchdown on a three-yard rush from Anthony Paoletti.
UAlbany wouldn’t go away quietly. They followed the Delaware score with a 75-yard bomb to Tyler Oedekoven to pull the Great Danes within one score. The attempted two-point conversion was unsuccessful. The score would hold there for the rest of the game, and UAlbany would fall short 20-15.
Coach Greg Gattuso spoke on the tough loss saying, "It's a script we have to break. I think it's the best game we've played this year against a really good football team.” He saw improvement in his team, however.” I thought we ran the ball better, we didn't stick with it enough, but offensively there were some bright spots. The defense played their tails off."
The Great Danes finish up a long road stretch when they visit William & Mary next Saturday for more CAA conference action. They look to get their first win of the year.