AJ Mistler
Kathleen Helman
21
Maine MNE 2-8 , 2-5
23
Winner University at Albany ALB 3-7 , 2-5
Maine MNE
2-8 , 2-5
21
Final
23
University at Albany ALB
3-7 , 2-5
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MNE Maine 7 0 7 7 21
ALB University at Albany 0 10 7 6 23

Game Recap: Football |

Football Walks It Off Against Maine, Wins On Senior Day

Score: UAlbany 23, Maine 21
 
Location: Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
 
Records: UAlbany (3-7, 2-5 CAA) | Maine (2-8, 2-5 CAA)
 
Short Story: With 0:00 on the clock, the University at Albany Football team was able to secure a walk off win over the Maine Black Bears. The Great Danes found themselves down four on the Maine 1-yard line with no time remaining – but with a free play due to a penalty. Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger was able to find Julian Hicks over the middle for the score – a catch that was heavily contested. With the score, the Great Danes secured the 23-21 win over their conference foes from the North.  
 
Key Stat Lines Coach Greg Gattuso: "We kept battling, and we were able to come back and win it in the end. A lot of credit to the offense there at the end and the defense to get a stop. It's a great win for us. Maine is a team that we've struggled with, it was great to get the monkey off our back and get a win."
 
How it Happened:
  • On the opening drive, Maine scored the first points of the afternoon. The Black Bears marched 79 yards on 16 plays for the TD. The drive was capped by a 10-yard completion to Montigo Moss.
  • John Opalko got the Great Danes on the board early in the second frame thanks to a 35-yard FG into the wind, making the score 3-7.
  • Maine was able to march into UAlbany territory around the 10-minute mark in the second quarter. Facing a 4th-and-7, the Black Bears failed to convert – giving the ball back to UAlbany. Maine's Joe Fagnano was flushed out of the pocket and forced to make a tough throw.
  • With 5:35 remining in the first half, UAlbany attempted a 49-yard FG but was not successful.
  • Dylan Kelly collected his first career interception late in the second quarter, stalling a Maine drive and setting the Great Danes up with favorable field position.
  • Maine' starting quarterback, Joe Fagnano, left the game late in the second with an injury but would return to start in the second half.
  • The Great Danes got the ball back with 39 second left in the half, but only needed 20 seconds to get into the end zone. After a long completion to Roy Alexander, Reese Poffenbarger found Thomas Greaney in the back corner of the end zone for the score – a 20-yard completion. The drive itself covered 67 yards and put UAlbany up 10-7 before the half.
  • The Great Danes took a 17-7 lead early in the second half thanks to a 52-yard run and a two-yard TD run from Todd Sibley.
  • Maine's Adrian Otero intercepted a pass at midfield for the Black Bears midway through the third quarter.
  • Following the Maine INT, the Black Bears were able to punch it into the end zone to make the score 17-14 in favor of UAlbany. Zavier Scott took the direct snap to run it in for the score.
  • UAlbany's Todd Sibley was injured while extending for the end zone in the final seconds of the third quarter.
  • After the Sibley injury, The Maine defense was able to make a goal-line to keep the Great Danes out of the end Zone. Following the stand, the Black Bears blocked a field goal to keep the game 17-14.
  • On the ensuing Maine possession, the Great Dane defense came up clutch once again – holding the Black Bears on a 4th-and-1 at midfield.
  • Maine took a 21-17 lead with 1:50 remaining on the clock following a six-yard run from Fagnano.
  • The game came down to the final eight seconds from the three-yard line. After numerous penalties from the Maine defense, UAlbany found itself at the 1-yard line with 0:00 on the clock. On the final play of the afternoon, Reese Poffenbarger found Julian Hicks in the middle on a bullet throw for the score, walking it off for the Great Danes.

Next: The Great Danes finish off the 2022 campaign with a trip to Rhode Island next weekend.  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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