Annual ‘Pink Game’ Features Battle for Golden Apple Trophy

ALBANY, N.Y. –  The University at Albany football team returns to Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium for their annual “Pink Game” to support breast cancer awareness. The team is set to face archrival Stony Brook in the battle for the Golden Apple trophy. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST with coverage on FloFootball and 104.5 The Team.  

Game Info

Saturday, October 29 vs. Stony Brook  

1:00 p.m. EST 

FloFootball | 104.5 The Team |  Live Stats | Media Center | Tickets | Fan Program

Leading the Pack

• Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger rolls into week nine leading the CAA in passing, completing 155-of-235 pass attempts for 2,052 yards. He has tossed 16 TDs over seven games. He averages 293.9 yards a game, completing six straight games with 250+ yards per game. Poffenbarger has been named CAA Rookie of the Week four times this season (9/19, 9/26, 10/3, and 10/17) and was once named the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week.
• Todd Sibley ranks fifth in the conference in rushing. The graduate student is averaging 92.6 yards per game. He has rushed for eight TDs with one more coming through the air.
• Thomas Greaney ranks eighth in the league in receiving, averaging 5.3 receptions per game and 69.0 receiving yards per game. Against Villanova, he brought in two key TDs late in the game, recording six receptions for 42 yards. 
• Dylan Kelly leads the team in tackles with 64.0 (36 solo, 28 asst) while Jackson Ambush follows closely behind with 61.0 (31 solo, 30 asst). For their efforts, both earned a ranking in the conference’s top-10 in tackles. 
• On special teams, Tyler Pastula is averaging 43.60 yards per punt (3rd in CAA). He recorded a season-high punt of 73 yards against Villanova. Kicker John Opalko is 6-9 on the season, hitting a long of 36 yards. 

Real Men Wear Pink

Coach Greg Gattuso and Director of Athletics Mark Benson are 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. To donate to Coach Gattuso’s Real Men Wear Pink Campaign, click here.

Golden Apple Refresh

Dating back to 2015, the winner of Saturday’s matchup will receive the ‘Golden Apple’ trophy. In that time, Stony Brook leads the series 4-3, taking the latest contest last season. UAlbany has picked up wins in 2016 (13-6 in Albany), 2018 (25-23 in Albany), and 2019 (31-26 at Stony Brook). During the Golden Apple era, the Great Danes have gone 2-1 at home and 1-3 on the road.

This year, the Golden Apple has a new look. Replacing the old trophy, the new design features a tall wooden base that holds the apple on top. Team logos cover the side, with the all-time series written across the front plate.

Scouting Stony Brook 

In seven games this season, Stony Brook (1-6 overall, 1-4 conference) picked up its first win last week against Maine in a 28-27 nail biter. The Seawolves dropped their first two games against Rhode Island, losing 14-35, and UMass, 3-20. Against Richmond, Stony Brook took a 7-51 defeat, followed by a 10-27 loss to William & Mary. Before ending their losing streak, the Stony Brook football team had an additional two more losses to New Hampshire, falling 14-24, and Fordham, 14-45. 

• Offensively, the Seawolves are falling to opponents averaging 12.86 points per game. In six games, the offense has totaled 1,959 yards or 279.9 per game. With 707 yards coming from the ground, most are coming from the air with 1,252 yards. 
• On the defensive side of the ball, Stony Brook is allowing 32.71 points per game. Opponents are averaging over 2,800 yards of offense, with 953 coming from the ground and 1,902 coming through the air. The defense has recorded two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. 

Poffenbarger Leading Rookie Class

Last week, quarterback Reese Poffenbarger was once again named the CAA’s Rookie of the Week. It was 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.

UAlbany Football Weekly

Turn the channel to MY4 Albany every Saturday morning at 11:30 for UAlbany Football Weekly, presented by Mohawk Chevrolet. See Coach Gattuso and players in studio, hear special mic’d up segments, and learn about the team with weekly feature stories. It’s all UAlbany football, every Saturday, all season long. 

Around the CAA

Monday, five CAA football teams were nationally ranked in the latest Stats Preform and AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25 polls. The CAA’s five ranked teams were tied with the Big Sky for the most of any conference. William & Mary (6-1) edged up to No. 10 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 12 in the AFCA Coaches poll after picking up a 44-24 road win at Towson last Saturday. The Tribe, which is 4-0 on the road, returns home to face nationally ranked Rhode Island this week. Delaware (6-1) rose to No. 11 in the AFCA poll and No. 12 in the Stats poll after rolling past Morgan State, 34-7, last week. The Blue Hens face a tough road test at Elon this Saturday. Richmond (5-2) climbed to No. 17 in the Stats poll and No. 20 in the AFCA rankings following a 41-10 triumph at Hampton last week. The Spiders hit the road again on Saturday with a trip to Maine. Rhode Island (5-2) moved up No. 17 in the AFCA poll and No. 18 in the Stats Perform rankings after outlasting Monmouth, 48-46 in seven overtimes last Saturday. The Rams travel to nationally ranked William & Mary this week. New Hampshire (6-2) vaulted to No. 19 in the Stats poll and entered the AFCA poll at No. 25 following a 40-22 victory over nationally ranked Elon last Saturday. The Wildcats, who sit atop the CAA standings at 5-0, are off this week. Villanova (4-3) and Elon (5-3) were among others receiving votes in both polls. 

This week’s matchups include:

• Towson* at Monmouth*
• Hampton* at Villanova*
• Stony Brook* at UAlbany*
• Richmond at Maine* 
• Rhode Island* at William & Mary*
• Delaware* at Elon* 

*Denotes CAA Team

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

Oct. 22            at Villanova*              L, 29-31

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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