Defense Boasts Season-Best Performance In Football's 17-6 Win At Delaware
GAME STATS
NEWARK, Del. – With 14 straight points to close the contest, the University at Albany football team overcame Delaware 17-6 in front of a homecoming crowd of 15,318, Saturday at Delaware Stadium. With the win, the Great Danes improved to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in CAA play, while the Blue Hens fell to have the same record.
“It's a huge win. Anytime you can come into Delaware and get a win on their field, it's a big deal,” said Head Coach Greg Gattuso. “The big thing is our young guys were just starting to practice well and we're playing better, and it showed on the field. We're very happy to get a win, to get some reward for our effort.”
UAlbany's defense had its best performance yet, holding Delaware to a season-low 224 yards of offense while recovering three fumbles and knocking six loose. In addition, the six points allowed marked the program's best effort since shutting out Central Connecticut on Sept. 6, 2014. Malachi Hoskins led the way with nine tackles (7 solo), including two sacks, a forced fumble, and four tackles for a loss of 20 total yards. Jack Forster followed with eight tackles (5 solo) with a sack and a blocked field goal.
“You have to give credit to our defense,” said Gattuso. “They were physical, knocked balls out, we turned them over a lot. We kind of played our game for the first time in a while and I was happy with that.”
Offensively, the Great Danes accrued a season-high 262 rushing yards on 50 attempts, led by freshman running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks' 135 yards on 28 carries. After starter Neven Sussman was knocked out of the game from an injury on a late hit in the first quarter, redshirt sophomore quarterback D.J. Crook served as a major spark, rushing for a career-high 134 yards on 13 carries, including a career-long 63-yard scamper. Crook also threw for 27 yards and a touchdown, completing 4-of-11 passes.
“When you lose your starter in the early part of the game, it's really hard,” added Gattuso. “I give D.J. a lot of credit. We were resilient. We fought through, so I'm happy with the way we played today.”
A defensive battle throughout the first quarter, neither team was able to break onto the board. UAlbany attempted a 42-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the opening stanza, but it sailed wide right. Delaware looked to take the lead on their 28-yard attempt at the start of the second, but Forster got a mitt on the ball to keep the Blue Hens scoreless.
On their next possession, UAlbany finally broke the stalemate with a 15-play drive capped by Patrick Toole's 28-yard field goal with 3:01 remaining in the half. The successful attempt put Toole over the 100-career point mark, making him the seventh kicker in program history to reach the milestone.
However, Delaware quickly reciprocated with a 33-yard field goal of their own, tying the score 3-3 with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.
The low scoring affair continued into the third quarter with both defenses earning stop after stop. At the 1:49 mark, the Blue Hens took a 6-3 advantage on Frank Raggo's 21-yard field goal, ending a 10-play, 48-yard drive.
However, the unexpected turning point came when the Delaware defense earned its third straight stop. On Jon Martin's 42-yard punt, returner Diante Cherry fumbled the catch and redshirt sophomore Cory Parker dove on the ball in the end zone, scoring his first career touchdown and giving UAlbany the lead for good, 10-6, with 14 seconds left in the quarter.
To start the fourth, the Danes forced Delaware to punt and Crook led UAlbany down the gridiron for their second straight score. Crook opened the drive with a career-best 63-yard run. With 10:23 remaining, Crook capped the six-play, 86-yard possession with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brad Harris.
In the closing minutes, the UAlbany defense sealed the deal when Jamal Robinson stripped the ball from Cherry and Neil Morrison recovered at midfield. The Great Danes then ran out the final four minutes, ending in victory formation.
The win marked UAlbany's first road win since beating Maine on Oct. 18, 2014, and first triumph over Delaware since Sept. 16, 2006.
Up next, the Great Danes return to Tom & Mary Casey Stadium for the final home game of the season, hosting New Hampshire Saturday at 7 p.m. The contest will air live on the American Sports Network. As a part of Military Appreciation Day, all service members, active or retired, will receive free admission to the game with a military ID. UAlbany will also honor the team's seniors prior to the game.
