Jared Ambrose
UAlbany Athletics
20
UAlbany UAB 1-2 , 0-0
31
Winner Hawaii HAW 1-2 , 0-0
UAlbany UAB
1-2 , 0-0
20
Final
31
Hawaii HAW
1-2 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UAB UAlbany 7 10 3 0 20
HAW Hawaii 10 7 7 7 31

Game Recap: Football |

Defense Shines, Football Falls to Hawai’i

Score: UAlbany 20, Hawai'i 31
 
Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, Hawai'i
 
Records: UAlbany (1-2, 0-0 CAA) | Hawai'i (1-2, 0-0 MW)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany football team went back and forth with the University of Hawai'i, an FBS opponent, on Saturday night, but ultimately came up short. The defense forced three turnovers, all interceptions, including a pick-six from defensive back Larry Walker Jr.
 
Key Stat Lines  
Associate Head Coach Jared Ambrose: "The guys came down here and played their tails off. I thought the defense played an incredibly solid game, they gave us everything they could. They [the defense] turned the ball over, gave us good field position, and had some fourth-and-one stops. They were just awesome all night."
 
How it Happened:
  • The momentum instantly went to Hawaii's sideline. After going three-and-out, The Great Danes had a punt blocked deep in their own territory – giving the Rainbow Warriors possession at the UAlbany 12-yard line. The defense held strong, however, holding Hawai'i to just three points.
  • The Great Danes jumped into the lead thanks to the legs of Reese Poffenbarger midway through the first quarter. The quarterback got loose for a 41-yard TD run, similar to a long score the week prior, to put the Great Danes up 7-3.
  • With Hawai'i marching into UAlbany territory, linebacker Dylan Kelly collected his first interception of the season at the UAlbany 17-yard line.
  • Hawai'i took the ball right back six plays later, with Poffenbarger throwing his first INT of the year. The pick was made by Hawaii's Elijah Palmer. The Rainbow Warriors would collect seven points on the ensuing drive, with quarterback Brayden Schager finding Jonah Panoke on a four-yard strike for the 10-7 lead.
  • The UAlbany defense stepped up on Hawaii's next drive. Larry Walker Jr. jumped a route to get the interception, brining it back 35 yards to the house to put UAlbany in front, 14-10, with 11:20 remining in the second.
  • With 3:34 remaining, on a long third down, Hawaii's Schager found Steven McBride on a 30-yard strike to put the Rainbow Warriors back on top, 17-14.
  • The UAlbany offense ate up the final 3:28 of clock to close out the first half. After two seconds was put back onto the clock, UAlbany took its final time out to set up a field goal attempt for John Opalko. Opalko hit it through the uprights from 46 yards out to tie the game as time expired in the first half.
  • Hawai'i stuck first in the second half with just over six minutes remaining in the third. Schager connected on a 34-yard score to Matthew Shipley to make it a 24-17 ballgame.
  • Aamir Hall snagged his second interception of the year with 4:28 remaining in the third, setting up the offense at the Hawai'i 21-yard line. The ensuing drive resulted in a UAlbany field goal from Opalko, hitting it from 32 yards out to cut the lead to 24-20.
  • In Hawai'i territory with close to six minutes remaining, the Great Danes turned the ball over on a pitch out to the right. Hawai'i recovered the fumble and took it all the way to the UAlbany 31-yard line. The Rainbow Warriors put the game out of reach moments later, with Schager finding McBride on a 12-yard completion for the score, 31-20.

Next: The Great Danes take a much-deserved bye week three weeks into the season before returning to the road on Sept. 23 against Morgan State. 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. 
 
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