Football Hosts #5 Villanova for Homecoming Weekend

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns home for the first time in over a month as the team hosts #5 Villanova on Homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST, and will be streamed on FloFootball and broadcast on 104.5 FM The Team ESPN in Albany.

Game Info

Saturday, October 16 vs. #5 Villanova

Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium

3:30 p.m. EST

FloFootball| 104.5 FM The Team ESPN | Live Stats | Game Notes

Tyler Oedekoven hauls in a TD pass against William & Mary 

Leading the Pack

• The FCS teams UAlbany has played this year have a combined record of 17-3.
• Jackson Ambush leads the team in tackles at 41 (22 ua, 19 a).
• Jared Verse leads the team with five sacks on the year, tied for second in the CAA.
• Roy Alexander leads the team in all-purpose yards. He is averaging 87.3 per game with 228 coming from receiving and an additional 103 off of kick returns. He also leads the receiving corps with 57.0 yards per game. He also ranks in the top 10 in the CAA in kick return average (17.2).
• Dylan Burns still remains perfect on the season for field goals (5-5), knocking through one against William & Mary.
• Karl Mofor found his groove last week against William & Mary, rushing for a season-high 126 yards while adding another 40 through the air. He scored two TDs, one through the air and another on the ground. 
• Jeff Undercuffler has thrown for 662 yards this season, completing 55-of-107 pass attempts with three touchdowns. His longest pass of the season was a 75-yard TD strike to Tyler Oedekoven against Delaware.
• Joey Carino won CAA Rookie of the Week honors after a strong game against William & Mary. The freshman was 17-of-27 passing for 244 yards and two TDs, adding 27 yards on 14 carries. 

Casey Stadium on Homecoming Heroes Night, where over 8,100 fans came out to show their support

Scouting Villanova

Villanova has been enjoying an excellent start to the season, and continued to build momentum this past week with a win over then-No.3 James Madison. With the win, the Wildcats snapped a 15-game winning streak the Dukes had over CAA teams. Villanova played shutout defense in the second half and outgained the host Dukes by a final tally of 388-339 in yards of total offense. In addition, this season Villanova has also picked up wins against Lehigh (47-3), Bucknell (55-3), and then-No.21 Richmond (34-27). The team’s lone loss an impressive one – a 17-38 showing against No. 6 FBS school Penn State. The Wildcats sit second in the CAA in scoring, averaging 36.2 points per game, and fourth in defense, allowing 19.6 points per game. Quarterback Daniel Smith averages 215.6 yards per game through the air and running back Justin Covington averages 81.6 yards per game on the ground. The Wildcats now lead the CAA in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, coming in at No. 6. 

UAlbany last faced Villanova, ranked No. 7, in 2017 - defeating the Wildcats 19-10 in OT (2017 pictured above)

Last Time Against Villanova

A similar situation to the last time these two teams met is in the works. The last time the Great Danes and Wildcats faced each other came back in 2017, when UAlbany knocked off the No.7 team, 19-10, in overtime. The win for UAlbany was the first ever against an FCS top-10 opponent, and ranks as the highest such win in program history. UAlbany controlled the tempo of the game, holding the ball for 38:44 compared to Villanova’s 21:16. Quarterback Will Brunson completed 24 of 36 passes for 221 yards. The game was capped in overtime with UAlbany leading 13-10. Villanova faced a 4th and 1 from the Great Danes' 16-yard line. Defensive end Malachi Hoskins caught Wildcats quarterback Zach Bednarczyk behind the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble, which linebacker Eli Mencer scooped up and returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Overall, Villanova leads the all-time series 3-1. 

Around the CAA

Five CAA Football teams were ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll released on Monday. Villanova (No. 6), James Madison (No. 8), Rhode Island (No. 12), Delaware (No. 14), and New Hampshire (No. 23). In addition, William & Mary received votes in the latest poll for the second-straight week. Villanova was ranked No. 5 in the weekly Coaches' Poll. Last week’s results from around the CAA can be found below.

• UAlbany 24, William & Mary 31
• Elon 33, Maine 23
• Delaware 15, Rhode Island 22
• Villanova 28, James Madison 27
• Stony Brook 14, Towson 21

One Tough Schedule 

It’s known that the Great Danes have faced one of the toughest schedules in the entire FCS. In the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, UAlbany’s opponents this year currently rank No. 3 (NDSU), No. 6 (Villanova – this week’s opponent), No. 12 (Rhode Island), and No. 14 (Delaware). In addition, William & Mary received votes in the poll for the second consecutive week and sit just outside the top 25. 

Coach Greg Gattuso is rockin' pink the entire month of October to support the American Cancer Society

Real Men Wear Pink

Coach Gattuso is wearing the color pink the entire month of October to take a stand against breast cancer and to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. In addition to Coach Gattuso wearing pink, the UAlbany football team is set to host its annual ‘Pink’ game on October 23 against Maine. For more information on UAlbany’s ‘Pink’ game, click here. To donate to Coach Gattuso’s Real Men Wear Pink Campaign, click here.

Important Links

Tickets

Parking Passes

Mobile Ticket Information

UAlbany Sports App

Season Schedule

Click here for UAlbany’s full 2021 online season schedule. 

Sept. 4             at NDSU (L, 6-28) - RECAP

Sept. 11           RHODE ISLAND (L, 14-16) - RECAP

Sept. 18           at Syracuse (L, 24-62) - RECAP

Oct. 2              at Delaware (L, 15-20) - RECAP

Oct. 9              at William & Mary (L, 24-31) - RECAP

Oct. 16            VILLANOVA

Oct. 23            MAINE

Oct. 30            at Towson

Nov. 6              NEW HAMPSHIRE

Nov. 13            MORGAN STATE

Nov. 20            at Stony Brook

Let’s Get Social

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on Twitter and Instagram and by using the hashtags #BeGreat and #WinTheDay.