Football Travels to Villanova for Week Eight Matchup

ALBANY, N.Y. –  The University at Albany football team continues CAA play with a contest against the Villanova Wildcats at Goodreau Field at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST with coverage on FloFootball and 103.9 The Breeze. 

Game Info

Saturday, October 22 vs. Villanova 

3:30 p.m. EST 

FloFootball | 103.9 The Breeze | Live Stats | Media Center 

Leading the Pack

• Going into week eight, the UAlbany offense remains amongst the top in the league in scoring (3), total offense (3) and total offensive average per play (4). 
• Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger rolls into week eight being named CAA Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season (9/19, 9/26, 10/3, & 10/17). In addition, this week he was selected as the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week. Thus far, he has completed 122-of-193 pass attempts for 1,683 yards. He’s tossed 13 TDs with no interceptions over six games. Poffenbarger proves to be a threat while leading the CAA in passing, averaging 280.5 yards per game. The freshman has completed five straight games with 250+ pass yards.
• Todd Sibley continues making a big impact for the Great Danes. Second in the conference in rushing, Sibley is averaging 107.0 yards per game. He’s rushed for eight TDs with one coming through the air. Against Hampton, he rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries, scoring one TD. 
• Thomas Greaney ranks fifth in the league in receiving, averaging 5.2 receptions per game and 73.5 receiving yards per game. He has had three games this season in which he has scored two TDs. 
• Tied with 54.0 tackles, Jackson Ambush (27 solo, 27 asst) and Dylan Kelly (33 solo, 21 asst) lead the UAlbany defense. Both rank in the conference’s top-10 in tackles. 
• On special teams, Tyler Pastula is averaging 42.72 yards per punt (5th in CAA). Kicker John Opalko is 6-8 on the season, hitting a long of 36 yards (4th in CAA). 

Poffenbarger Leading Rookie Class

This week, quarterback Reese Poffenbarger was once again named the CAA’s Rookie of the Week. It is the fourth consecutive game the signal caller has collected the conference award. In addition, Poffenbarger also claimed national attention – being named the Stats Perform FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week and being named to the Jerry Rice Award Watchlist as the nation's top freshman. 

In last week’s game, Poffenbarger led the offense to 37 points in a narrow 37-38 overtime setback against Hampton. He completed 26 of his 35 attempts, compiling 337 yards – the second such time he's surpassed the 300-yard mark this season (417 yards vs Fordham, 9-17-22). The rookie QB also passed for four touchdowns, a career high. It's the first time a UAlbany quarterback has thrown for four touchdowns since Jeff Undercuffler did it three times in the 2019 season.

Through six games, Poffenbarger has yet to throw an interception. No FCS quarterback without an interception has thrown more attempts (193) and more TDs (13) than Poffenbarger this season.

Last Time Against Villanova 

The last time the Great Danes faced the Wildcats was Oct. 16, 2021. Villanova, ranked No. 5 in the nation at the time, escaped Tom and Mary Casey Stadium with a narrow 17-10 victory in the pouring rain. For the full game recap, click here. 

Game leaders:

• Jeff Undercuffler – 17 of 36 passes, 2 INTs, 181 yards
• Karl Mofor – 81 yards rushing, TD, 5 receptions, 50 receiving yards
• Mohamed Jabbie – 6 receptions, 47 yards
• Danny Damico – 10 tackles, 4 solo, INT
• Jackson Ambush – 12 tackles, 8 solo
• Semaj Brown – 7 tackles, 6 solo, Fumble Recovery

Scouting Villanova 

In six games this season, Villanova (3-3, 1-2 CAA) ranks in multiple categories in the CAA. The Wildcats won their first two games of the year against Lehigh, 45-17, and LIU, 38-21. Villanova then had a two-game losing streak, falling to Army 10-49 and Monmouth 42-49. The Wildcats earned a win against Maine, 45-20, before most recently a suffering a defeat against Richmond, 10-20.  

• Offensively, the Wildcats are averaging 31.67 points per game. In six games, the offense has totaled 2,531.0 yards, or 421.8 per game. When it comes to total offensive yards, 1,208 have come through the air and 1,323 have come on the ground.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Villanova is allowing 29.33 points per game and opponents are averaging over 421 yards of offense. The defense has recorded five interceptions and three fumble recoveries. 

Around the CAA

On Monday, six CAA football teams ranked in FCS top 25 for a second straight week. William & Mary, which was off last week, is ranked No. 12 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 13 in AFCA Coaches poll. The Tribe is back in action this Saturday at Towson. Delaware, which was also off last week, remained at No. 12 in the AFCA poll and No. 13 in the Stats poll. The Blue Hens step out of conference and host Morgan State on Saturday. Richmond moved up to No. 19 in the Stats poll and No. 21 in the AFCA poll after its 20-10 victory over nationally ranked Villanova last Saturday. The Spiders make the short trip to Hampton this week. Rhode Island climbed to No. 19 in the AFCA poll and No. 22 in the Stats poll following its 17-10 triumph over nationally ranked Elon last Saturday. The Rams travel to Monmouth this week. Elon slipped to No. 21 in the Stats poll and No. 25 in the AFCA poll after the narrow setback at Rhode Island. The Phoenix is back on the road to face New Hampshire on Saturday. New Hampshire moved to back into the Stats poll at No. 25 and received voted in the AFCA poll after shutting out Dartmouth, 14-0, last week. The Wildcats host nationally ranked Elon on Saturday. Villanova is among others receiving voted in both polls, while Hampton picked up a vote in the AFCA poll. 

This week’s matchups include:

• Elon at New Hampshire
• Rhode Island at Monmouth
• Richmond at Hampton
• Morgan State at Delaware 
• Maine at Stony Brook
• UAlbany at Villanova
• William & Mary at Towson

Meet the Leadership Council

Every year, the UAlbany players and coaching staff elect a “Leadership Council” comprised of guys who show an extortionary level of leadership both on and off the field. This year’s council is comprised of eight total student-athletes, five coming from the offensive side of the ball and three coming from the defensive side. Players on this year’s council include offensive lineman Scott Houseman, quarterback Joey Carino, tight end Thomas Greaney, center Kobe Thomas, linebacker Jackson Ambush, linebacker AJ Mistler, running back Todd Sibley, and defensive back Larry Walker Jr.

Preseason Honors

UAlbany was picked to finish in 12th place in this year’s CAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The low mark comes as no surprise as the team comes off a year in which they went 2-9. The last time the Great Danes finished with a similar record was in 2018, when the team finished with a 3-8 mark. The next year though? The Great Danes went 9-5 overall and won their first ever postseason game, a 42-14 clobbering against CCSU. 

Linebacker Jackson Ambush (Defense) and punter Tyler Pastula (Special Teams) both received preseason conference honors. In addition, defensive lineman Anthony Lang was named Honorable Mention. Ambush led the team in total tackles last season as a freshman. Pastula transferred from CAA foe Delaware, but not before being named All-CAA First Team and collecting two Special Teams Player of the Week awards in 2021. 

Season Schedule

Click here for UAlbany’s full 2022 online season schedule. 

Sept. 3             at No. 10 Baylor          L, 10-69

Sept. 10           NEW HAMPSHIRE*     L, 23-28

Sept. 17           at Fordham                 L, 45-48

Sept. 24           CCSU                           W, 45-26

Oct. 1              BYE

Oct. 8              at Monmouth*           L, 31,38

Oct. 15            HAMPTON*                L, 37-38 OT

Oct. 22            at Villanova*

Oct. 29            STONY BROOK*

Nov. 5              at Elon*

Nov. 12            MAINE*

Nov. 19            at Rhode Island* 

* Denotes CAA Matchup

Let’s Get Social

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