Thomas Greaney
Jaime Dickinson/UAlbany Athletics
29
UAlbany UAL 1-6 , 0-4
31
Winner Villanova VIL 4-3 , 2-2
UAlbany UAL
1-6 , 0-4
29
Final
31
Villanova VIL
4-3 , 2-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UAL UAlbany 0 7 9 13 29
VIL Villanova 7 14 0 10 31

Game Recap: Football |

Great Danes Fall Just Short of Major Comeback

Score: Villanova 31, UAlbany 29
 
Location: Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pennsylvania
 
Records: UAlbany (1-6, 0-4 CAA) | Villanova (4-2, 2-2 CAA)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany football team came close to completing a huge comeback against the Villanova Wildcats on their Homecoming night, but fell 29-31. The Great Danes fell behind 21-0 before scoring 16-straight points. After a successful onside kick late in the game, UAlbany took a 29-28 lead with 50 seconds left on the clock. However, the team was unable to hold on with the Wildcats hitting a game-winning field goal as time expired.
 
Key Stat Lines  
How it Happened:
  • The Wildcats got off to a quick start, scoring on their second play from scrimmage. TD Ayo-Durojaiye ripped a 70-yard run to the house to give Villanova the quick 7-0 lead.
  • The Wildcats went 3-4 on fourth downs on their second offensive possession but were held by the UAlbany defense in scoring territory. Villanova's Matthew Mercurio missed a 36-yard field goal attempt to keep the game 7-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
  • Villanova pushed the score to 14-0 early in the second quarter. Connor Watkins found Jaaron Hayek for an 18-yard strike to the end zone. The Villanova drive lasted 6:03 and covered 80 yards on 10 plays.
  • The UAlbany offense was held at midfield with two minutes remaining in the first half, failing to convert on fourth down. On the ensuing Wildcat drive, Villanova marched 54 yards on five plays to push the score to 21-0. The drive was capped by a 20-yard TD pass from Watkins to Rayjuon Pringle.
  • The Great Danes found the end zone for their first points of the day with just six seconds left on the clock in the first half. The offense marched 75 yards on seven plays, taking up just 58 seconds of clock. Reese Poffenbarger found Brevin Easton down the near sideline for a 26-yard TD to make the score 21-7 heading into the locker room. UAlbany would receive the ball to start the second half.
  • In the first half, UAlbany was held to just 24 rushing yards. Villanova gained 118.
  • Notably in the first half, Villanova finished 5-7 on third down conversions. UAlbany failed to convert on third down, going 0-4.
  • On their first offensive drive of the second half, the Great Danes were able to make it a one-score game. The team marched 71 yards on 10 plays, taking up 6:49 of clock, before Poffenbarger ran it up the middle himself for a one-yard TD. The Great Danes overcame a 1st and 30 midway through the drive.
  • The UAlbany defense stepped up big late in the third quarter, sacking Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins in the end zone with 2:11 remaining for the safety. The defensive score made it 21-16.
  • With five minutes remaining, UAlbany kicker John Opalko missed a field goal from 27 yards out.
  • On the first play following the missed field goal, the Wildcats connected for an 80-yard TD from Watkins to Pringle to push the score to 28-16.
  • Poffenbarger threw his first interception of the year with four minutes remaining on a pass intended for Quinn Zinobile.
  • UAlbany got the ball back with 3:20 on the clock and marched 53 yards to bring the score to 23-28. The score came off a four-yard jumper from Poffenbarger to Thomas Greaney in the end zone. The drive ended with just 1:54 on the clock, the Great Danes having no timeouts remaining.
  • Following the TD, UAlbany was forced to go for an onside kick. Kicker Jack Barnum kicked a short roller up the middle of the field that the hands team was able to recover, giving the Great Danes the ball with 1:54 remaining down five.
  • UAlbany took the lead of the game with 53 seconds remaining on a five-yard hookup from Poffenbarger to Greaney. The score put UAlbany up 29-28. The Great Danes were stumped on the two-point conversion attempt, a shuffle pass to Greaney, where he was held at the goal line.
  • With 53 seconds remaining, Villanova was able to setup a close field goal attempt. The Wildcats' Mercurio was able to hit the 28-yarder as time expired for the win.

Next: The Great Danes return to Tom and Mary Casey Stadium next Saturday to battle archrival Stony Brook for the Golden Apple Trophy. 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 #UAUKNOW and #WinTheDay. 
 
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