By Brandon Vanenburg | November 22, 2021
The UAlbany Great Danes football team fell on the road to rival Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon, bringing the 2021 season to a close.
The offense struggled to get any flow yesterday, only getting 13 first downs for the entire game. Karl Mofor struggled to get a rhythm going in his last game, only rushing 64 yards but did add two touchdowns. Following a great week against Morgan State, the passing game performed as it has for most of the season. Jeff Underculfer and Joey Carino combined for only 174 yards passing on the day and couldn’t consistently move the ball for the Great Danes.
Defensive struggles were an issue all day. Stony Brook drove up and down the field throughout the game and UAlbany couldn’t do much to stop them. Ty Son Lawton's first run of the game went for 44 yards into UAlbany territory. That drive would eventually be capped by a 21 yards strike from Stony Brook's Tyquell Fields to a wide-open Tyler Devera for 21 yards and the score.
The Great Danes just couldn’t find answers on defense against the Seawolves. Stony Brook had 470 total yards in the game including a whopping 322 yards on the ground alone. “We didn't show up physically in the first half,” said Head Coach Greg Gattuso. Stony Brook averaged 6.7 yards per rush against a Great Danes defense that had been solid against the run all season.
Miscues plagued UAlbany once again. With 8:36 on the clock before the half, UAlbany's Undercuffler rushed in his own end zone and attempted to throw the ball away. He was called for intentional grounding, resulting in safety on the play to put Stony Brook ahead 12-0 and Alexander fumbled the ball within Stony Brook's 10-yard line with just a few minutes remaining before the half, ending what was a promising drive for the Great Danes.
Coach Greg Gattuso talked about how costly mistakes cost them a chance to compete in the game. "Mistakes that haunted us in the early parts of the season, with giving up points, were very hurtful, '' said Gattuso. “We knew we were going to need to score points to win the game, but a fumble at the five-yard line, a punt block, those are misses that are hard to overcome. It's disappointing. I feel bad for our seniors. Our effort level wasn't what it had been and Stony Brook wanted it very badly."
UAlbany finishes their season 2-9. Following an injury riddled spring year, the Great Danes will make full use of their off season as they prepare for the 2022 fall season.