Football Hosts Elon for Homecoming

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns to Casey Stadium for its annual Homecoming game this Saturday afternoon, hosting Elon University. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET with coverage on Flo Football and 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio in Albany. 

Game Info 

Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Elon 

Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.

3:30 p.m. 

Live Stats | FloFootball| 104.5 The Team | UAlbany Football Weekly | Tickets 

Leading the Pack 

• Quarterback Myles Burkett has completed 106-189 passes this season for 1,371 yards and eight touchdowns. He is averaging 228.5 yards per game, good for third overall in the CAA. 
• Burkett’s favorite target has been wideout Seven McGee, who has hauled in 32 receptions for 447 yards so far this season. He has scored five total TDs, including two this past weekend at Bryant. His 447 yards is good for sixth overall in the CAA. 
• The Great Danes have utilized a balance run game, splitting carries between Jojo Uga, Griffin Woodell, and Faysal Aden. Uga leads the group with a net of 218 yards followed by Aden (201) then Woodell (184). Uga also leads the group with three TDs on the year, followed by Woodell (2) and Aden (1). Woodell has been the starting back for UAlbany, but missed the last game at Bryant due to injury. 
• Donte Lunan continues to lead the Great Danes in total tackles with 53, 35 solo and 18 assisted. That mark ranks him fourth in the CAA, averaging 8.8 per contest. He has 2.0 sacks so far this year. 
• Lunan and Ron Holmes lead the team in TFLs. Lunan has collected 6.0, ninth in the CAA, and Holmes has collected 5.5, good for 12th in the CAA. 
• Kicker John Opalko has gone 8-11 on field goals this season. He has gone 13-14 on PATs. 

Last Time Against Elon

UAlbany and Elon have a short history, with three all-time matchups dating back to 2016. The Great Danes won the first matchup in Albany that year, with Elon getting the edge in two road contests in 2017 and 2022. 

Scouting Elon

The Phoenix are off to a 1-5 start this season, going 0-2 so far in CAA play. The team’s lone win came in a week two road matchup at North Carolina Central, taking a 41-19 victory. Non-conference losses have come to Duke, Western Carolina, and ETSU, while CAA losses have come from Richmond and New Hampshire. 

Elon has been averaging 17.00 points per game with the defense allowing 24.50 per game. 

At quarterback, redshirt senior Matthew Downing leads the team with 757 passing yards, completing 66-104 attempts for three TDs. Redshirt junior Jack Salopek started the last game for the Phoenix against New Hampshire, completing 17-29 passes for 185 yards. It was his fourth appearance son far this season, seeing limited snaps against Duke and ETSU as well as a plethora against Richmond. Jamarien Dalton has hauled in the most receptions (25) this season, followed by Chandler Brayboy (23). Dalton has accounted for 323 yards and two TDs, Brayboy has accounted for 313 yards and one TD. 

On the ground, TK Thomas Jr. and Rushawn Baker have taken a majority of the reps. Thomas Jr. has rushed for 444 yards on 69 attempts with four TDs. Baker has rushed for 204 yards on 63 carries with two TDs. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Caleb Curtain leads the team with 38 total tackles, followed by Marco Patierno with 36. Kahmari Brown leads the team with 3.0 sacks, followed by Cazeem Moore with 2.0. Five different players are tied with 1.0 sack each. In the backfield, five different players have recorded an INT, led by Curtain with six PBUs. 

Last Time Out

The Great Danes used a strong defensive performance to claim the team's first CAA win of the season on the road last Saturday afternoon at Bryant.

• Myles Burkett completed 13-22 passes for 183 yards, throwing two TDs and two INTs. He also ran for 57 yards.
• Levi Wentz led the receiving corps with 106 yards on four receptions.
• Seven McGee finished with four receptions for 26 yards, two of which went for TDs.
• Jojo Uga took 15 carries for 54 yards, scoring a TD.
• Dontae Lunan, returning to Bryant, led the team with seven tackles – including a TFL.
• The UAlbany defense finished with seven total sacks, led by Chiebuka Aduaka with two. Jack Iuliano (1.5), Ibrahim Sanogo (1), Marcus Winfield (1), Erv Wiggins Jr. (1), and Balansama Kamara (0.5) also found their name on the sack sheet.
• Thomas Joe-Kamara collected his first INT as a Great Dane.
• Denzel Patrick and Dasean Dixon each had fumble recoveries. 

Play Like AJ

The team will honor former Great Dane Amitral "AJ" Simon during the 2024 season with a special number dedication in each game.

In April of 2024, while preparing for the NFL Draft, Simon was tragically taken from us – sending shockwaves through both the UAlbany and football communities.

Before each contest in 2024, the UAlbany coaching staff will designate one player to wear the number eight jersey, in game, to honor their fallen brother. The individual chosen will be one who best exemplifies Simon's work ethic and preparation in that week's practices. The football program will announce their selection on Thursdays leading up to games.

This Saturday, Balansama Kamara will have the special honor of wearing #8 in game. He will be the first offensive player to wear AJ’s number this season. 

For a full list of this year’s recipients, see below. 

Aug. 31 vs. LIU – Ghassan Chehade

Sept. 7 at WVU – Donte Lunan

Sept. 14 at No. 4 Idaho – Dasean Dixon

Sept. 28 vs. Maine – Denzel Patrick

Oct. 5 vs. Cornell – Ron Holmes

Oct. 12 vs. Bryant – Faysal Aden

Oct. 19 vs. Elon – Balansama Kamara 

The University at Albany Department of Athletics recently announced finalized plans for a new football game day parking setup ahead of the 2024 season.
 
Dutch Lot, which has traditionally been used as the primary single game parking and tailgating area, will shift to the grass fields located adjacent to Tom & Mary Casey Stadium.
 
"We're very excited to roll out the new parking plan for football this fall," said Director of Athletics Mark Benson. "Utilizing the grass area near Casey Stadium as a parking and tailgating area has been a topic of conversation internally for years and we're thrilled to now have the ability to offer this improved experience for our fans. I want to thank our staff and partners across campus who were instrumental in making this idea a reality."
 
To view the new primary football game day parking map, click here.
 
By shifting the single game parking area to the "Grass Lot," all fans will now be able to experience the lead up to kickoff just a stone's throw from Bob Ford Field. The Grass Lot will drastically shorten the walk to the stadium gates and will increase the tailgating experience for all fans on game day.
 
"It will be great to see all of our fans enjoying themselves so close to the field as we warm up on game day," said football head coach Greg Gattuso. "The new Grass Lot will bring a ton of energy right outside the Casey Stadium gates, and our guys will surely feed off that as they get ready to play."
 
What Great Dane Fans Need to Know:

• Entry: The entrance to the Grass Lot is located near the right field line of Varsity Field (Baseball Complex) off of University Drive East.
• "Festival Style" Parking: Parking spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Grass Lot. Fans will be flagged into the next available parking spot.  If fans plan to tailgate in groups, they are encouraged to arrive at the stadium together.
• Parking Passes: Parking passes in the Grass Lot are digital.  Fans may purchase season long parking passes for $75 ($15 savings).  Fans are encouraged to purchase their digital single game parking passes in advance of the game. Single game parking passes will be available for purchase on game days via credit card ONLY, as all UAlbany Athletic events operate as cashless.
  • Season and single game parking passes can be purchased in advance online by clicking here.
• Tailgating: There will be ten foot "islands" between parking rows in the Grass Lot where fans will be able to tailgate. All University Tailgating Policies still apply, to view these policies click here.
  • Tailgating is prohibited in this area when the Grass Lot is in use.
• Inclement Weather: In the case of inclement weather, the university will reserve the right to adjust parking prior to game day. In this event, single game parking will revert back to Dutch Lot. If an adjustment is to be made, fans will be notified 48 hours prior to game time.
• Broadview Lot (Located next to Casey Stadium): The Broadview Lot will remain unchanged. The Broadview Lot will continue to utilize hang tag passes and is not available for single game day purchases.
• Dutch Lot: Will only be available to UAlbany Students and Faculty/Staff with valid 2024-25 parking decals.  Tailgating is prohibited in this area when the Grass Lot is in use.
• Grass Lot Directions:
  • Entering Campus via Western Ave. (Recommended): Grass Lot pass holders or game day purchasers should turn right and follow further instructions for game day parking staff. Broadview Lot pass holders entering Western Ave entrance should have credentials properly displayed and turn left (towards Casey Stadium) onto campus loop road.
  • Entering Campus via Washington Ave.: Grass Lot pass holders or game day purchasers should turn left and follow campus signage and further instructions for game day parking staff. Broadview Lot pass holders entering Washington Ave entrances should have credentials properly displayed and turn right on to campus loop road.
  • Entering Campus via Fuller Rd./Great Dane Dr.: Grass Lot pass holders or game day purchasers should turn left and follow campus signage and further instructions for game day parking staff. Broadview Lot pass holders entering Fuller Rd. entrance should have credentials properly displayed and turn right onto campus loop road.

UAlbany Football Weekly

Head to UAlbanySports.com every Saturday morning at 10:00 for UAlbany Football Weekly, the only show that covers ALL THINGS UAlbany football. 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. 

Click here to view all episodes. 

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