Statesboro, Ga. - Adrian Mora kicked a 44-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining to lift Georgia Southern to a 29-26 non-conference victory over UAlbany in the season opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 5 before 18,118 fans at Paulson Stadium.
     In a contest that featured four lead changes and two ties, Georgia Southern took a 26-23 lead early in the final period when quarterback Lee Chapple fired a 28-yard scoring pass to Jamere Valentine. The 6-foot-1 freshman worked past one-on-one coverage up the left side line to haul in the pass and complete the 70-yard drive.
     UAlbany responded with an 11-play sequence that tied the game at 26 apiece. Justin Gannon, who ran for 42 yards on 12 carries, had two first-down runs on a drive that resulted in Herb Glass' 33-yard field goal with 6:31 to play. However, Chapple, who completed 30 of 43 passes for 259 yards and two scores, steadily drove his team down the field. He hit running back Adam Urbano for 16 yards past midfield and found Nick Kyles with an 11-yard throw. Mora, who made 10 of 12 field goals last year, would later comfortably make the winning points.
     The opening half produced unusual moments, trick plays and plenty of mistakes. Trailing 10-3, Georgia Southern punter Charlie Edwards back up the Great Danes near their goal line with a 64-yard punt. Cornerback Laron Scott would later come underneath the intended receiver and return an interception 15 yards for a touchdown to draw his team even.
     UAlbany turned the tables on fourth-and-four from its own 41, when Andrew Smith took a direct snap on a faked punt and rumbled 30 yards deep into GSU territory. The Great Danes later overcame a penalty that took an apparent score off the board. Quarterback Vinny Esposito found Tim Bush on a crossing pattern for 13 yards and a first down. Bush dove for the marker to set up David McCarty's 2-yard TD run. However, the extra-point attempt was blocked by defensive lineman Brent Russell and Darrell Pasco scooped up the ball and sprinted 88 yards to paydirt on the two-point defensive play.
     The Eagles took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Pasco recovered Justin Gannon's fumbled punt return. Mora booted a 24-yard field goal. The Great Danes went ahead with a 16-play, 67-yard march that took more than eight minutes off the clock. UAlbany converted four times on third down en route to McCarty's one-yard blast through the middle. Glass drilled a 48-yard field goal with 5:52 left in the second period for a 10-3 advantage.
     "They were prepared and played well enough to win," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford about a program that has won six NCAA Division I FCS national titles and eight Southern Conference crowns. "We just made too many mistakes and gave them 12 points with the interception, fumble and blocked extra point. I thought we also did some positive things and showed a fighting spirit."
     The Eagles, who have won 84 percent of their home games at Paulson Stadium, including their 150th in tonight's opener, took a 19-16 lead in the third quarter. Chapple and Valentine against teamed up for the touchdown, when the freshman took a receiver screen 36 yards to the end zone. UAlbany would go back in front with 3:36 to play in the period, when Smith bounced off the left side on a fourth-down quarterback sneak and raced 39 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Smith moved behind center when Esposito was suffering from heat cramps.
     Smith, a redshirt freshman, led his team in rushing with 99 yards on eight carries. McCarty added 63 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Great Danes had their eight-game win streak, the third-longest among FCS programs, halted.

Georgia Southern 29, UAlbany 26 (Sept. 05, 2009)

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary (Final)
2009 UAlbany Football
Albany vs GSU (Sep 05, 2009 at Statesboro, Ga.)

Albany (0-1) vs. GSU (1-0)

Date: Sep 05, 2009 • Site: Statesboro, Ga.  • Stadium: Paulson Stadium  •  Attendance: 18118