Score: UAlbany 37, Maine 21
 
Location: Alfond Stadium in Orono, Maine
 
Records: UAlbany (6-3, 4-1 CAA) | Maine (2-7, 1-5 CAA)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany football team cruised to a 37-21 road victory over CAA foe Maine on Saturday afternoon. Both the offense and defense enjoyed strong days, with the offense scoring four TDs and the defense forcing three turnovers and scoring a TD of their own.
 
Key Stat Lines

• Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger finished with 324 yards through the air with two TDs, going 18-30 with a long of 55 yards.
• Faysal Aden had a breakout game for the Purple & Gold. The grad transfer recorded his first collegiate TD, finishing with two on the day, and rushing for 141 yards.
• Marqeese Dietz and Brevin Easton led the receiving corps. Dietz led the team with seven receptions and 150 yards, while Easton finished with four receptions, 129 yards, and two TDs.
• Brian Abraham recorded a forced fumble that he brought all the way back to the house for an early score. He finished with four tackles and a TFL.
• Ori Jean-Charles, in his return to Maine, led the defense with 10 tackles and a TFL assist.
• AJ Simon collected a team-high two TFLs for 16 yards.
• Defensive lineman Joseph Greaney and defensive back Isaac Duffy each recorded an INT.

 
Head Coach Greg Gattuso: "First of all, our hearts and our prayers go out to all of the victims and their families involved in the recent tragedy. As for the game, both sides of the ball did their job. Reese [Poffenbarger] had another outstanding game, and the defense was able to force three turnovers led by that scoop and score from [Brian] Abraham. Overall, it was a great team win. Now it's time to turn our attention to a big game next week at home against William & Mary."
 
How it Happened:

• The Great Danes won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
• The Black Bear offense went to work early, marching 69 yards on eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on the opening drive. Quarterback Derek Robertson found Jamie Lamson in the end zone for an eight-yard score to cap it.
• The Great Danes tied the game later in the opening frame, putting together a five-play 40-yard drive to even things up at 7-7. Reese Poffenbarger threw a perfect ball to Brevin Easton 22 yards out for the score.
• After the UAlbany defense forced a 3-and-out on Maine's next offensive possession, Poffenbarger found Marqeese Dietz on the sideline for a 55-yard completion. Dietz, showing his athleticism, made a Sports center worthy catch with a one-handed grab. The catch eventually led to a UAlbany Field goal before the first quarter expired, making it 10-7 at the break.
• Minutes into the second quarter, linebacker Brian Abraham was able to rip the ball out of the hands of Maine's Robertson on a quarterback draw. Abraham went on to scoop the ball and run it back 68 yards for the defensive TD. The TD was the first of the graduate student's collegiate career, making it 17-7.
• Maine cut the deficit to 17-14 with five minutes remaining in the first half. Wideout Michael Monios hauled in a four-yard catch for the score, capping a 14-play 75-yard drive.
• On UAlbany's next offense possession, Poffenbarger found Easton once again – this time on a 53-yard pass into the end zone for the TD to push the score to 24-14. The drive started all the way back at the UAlbany 12-yard line, lasting just seven plays and covering 88 yards.
• With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Anton Juncaj got pressure on Maine's Robertson in the pocket and forced an errant ball wobbling into the air – which was intercepted by lineman Joseph Greaney at the UAlbany 45-yard line. It was the first turnover for Greaney on the season.
• The Great Danes took the 24-14 advantage into the locker room at halftime. At that point, Poffenbarger had compiled 236 yards in the air (103 to Dietz, 91 to Easton) and the defense had forced two turnovers.
• UAlbany opened the second half with another TD drive, going 71 yards on eight plays. Faysal Aden recorded his first collegiate TD in the process, running it in from 11 yards out. Aden had a 32-yard rush earlier in the drive to setup the Great Danes in Maine territory. The hold on the extra point was fumbled, resulting in a 30-14 lead.
• The Great Danes increased the lead to 37-14 later in the third quarter after Aden ran in his second of the afternoon, this time from 12 yards out. UAlbany covered 78 yards on seven plays, eating just 2:19 of clock.
• Just before the end of the third, with the Black Bears in the red Zone, Isaac Duffy recorded his first INT of the year – catching the ball at the UAlbany one-yard line to deny the Maine offense.
• The Black Bears scored their first TD of the second half with 11:04 remaining in the second half. Tristen Kenan brought in a pass from the side, running it in 11 yards for the score, 37-21.

Next: The Great Danes return home next Saturday, Nov. 4, to take on William & Mary in the team's annual Pink Game in support of the American Cancer Society. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X , Instagram, and Threads, and by using the hashtags #UAUKNOW and #WinTheDay.