Pink Game – Football Hosts UNH

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns home to host the University of New Hampshire. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET with coverage on FloFootball and 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio in Albany.  

Game Info

Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. New Hampshire

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

1:00 p.m.

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

Pink Game 

The UAlbany football program is ready to host its annual "Pink Game" supporting the American Cancer Society. This game, presented by Reimer Home Services, gives the community a unique opportunity. UAlbany football players will sport special decals on their helmets, honoring those from around the Capital Region who have been impacted by cancer. 

Leading the Pack

• Linebacker Dontae Lunan currently leads the CAA in total tackles with 81 on the year. His 31 solo tackles and his 10.1 tackles per game also paces the conference. He recorded a season-high 18 tackles two weeks ago against Elon. Lunan also is tied for the team lead in sacks with 2.0.
• Quarterback Myles Burkett has passed for 1,793 yards this year, going 138-252 through the air. His total yards ranks second in the conference, while his average of 224.1 yards per game ranks third. 
• The UAlbany backfield has seen flashes from three running backs – Griffin Woodell, Faysal Aden, and Jojo Uga. Aden (269) and Uga (266) pace the way in net yards. Uga has recorded one touchdown in five straight games dating back to UAlbany’s matchup with Maine on Sept. 28. 
• Seven McGee continues to lead the receiving corps in receptions (39), yards (549), and yards per game (68.63). He is followed by Levi Wentz with 402 yards and MarQeese Dietz with 223. 
• UAlbany has recorded 17 sacks this season, but only two players (Lunan and Chiebuka Aduaka) have recorded multiple. In total, 15 different players have recorded a sack this year. 
• Kevon Angry and KC Eziomume lead the team in PBUs with three each. They are followed by Erv Wiggins Jr. and Ibrahim Sanogo, each with two. 
• Punter Owen Lawson is averaging 45.0 yards per punt, fifth in the CAA. He’s had 12 punts surpass 50 yards and has stuck 10 within the opponents 20-yard line. 
• Kicker John Opalko has gone 8-14 on field goals. 

Last Time Against New Hampshire

The Wildcats were the only team in the CAA last season to give the Great Danes issues, taking a 38-31 victory in Durham. In that game:

• Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger had a strong showing for the Great Danes, throwing for 373 yards, four TDs, and two interceptions. It was the second highest yardage total in a single game of his career, and the third time he threw for four TDs.
• Poffenbarger's favorite target was wideout Julian Hicks, who enjoyed his best career game in the Purple and Gold. Hicks finished with 162 yards, the first time he has over broken the 100-yard barrier. He also hauled in two TD passes from 75 and 32 yards out. The 75-yard reception was the longest offensive play for the Great Danes this season.
• Brevin Easton followed closely behind, posting his own 100-yard receiving game after finishing with a total of 106. Easton also brought in two long TD passes from Poffenbarger, one from 50 yards out and one from 38 yards out.
• Dylan Kelly led the defense in tackles, finishing with 11 total (six solo) and one TFL. Anton Juncaj and William Martin III also finished with one TFL each.
• Ghassan Chehade posted his first career interception, pulling down a jump ball at the line late in the second quarter – leading to a UAlbany field goal before the half.

Scouting New Hampshire

The Wildcats come into Saturday’s game with a 4-4 overall record, going 2-2 in conference play. After starting the season with conference wins over Bryant and Elon, New Hampshire has lost its last two CAA matchups – a 9-26 home loss to Rhode Island and a 6-14 loss on the road to Villanova. 

• The team is averaging 20.25 points per contest with opponents averaging 22.25.
• Seth Morgan has been QB1 in Durham, completing 143-215 passes for 1,471 yards and 15 touchdowns. 
• UNH’s top three receivers have been Logan Tomlinson (561 yards, six touchdowns), Caleb Burke (463 yards, five touchdowns), and Joey Corcoran (356 yards, three touchdowns). Tomlinson’s 70.1 yards per game ranks fifth in the CAA.
• On the ground, Isaac Seide has an even 100 carries to lead the team. He has a net of 428 yards gained, averaging 4.3 per rush, to go with his two touchdowns. 
• Defensively, Wande Owen leads the team with 71.0 total tackles, good for fifth in the conference. 
• Josiah Silver has been a menace on the defensive line, wracking up 9.5 sacks on the year – top in the conference. 

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 defensive 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, Erv Wiggins Jr. will have the special honor of wearing #8 in game. 

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 at Cornell – Ron Holmes

Oct. 12 at Bryant – Faysal Aden

Oct. 19 vs. Elon – Balansama Kamara 

Oct. 26 at Delaware - Owen Lawson

Nov. 2 vs. New Hampshire - Erv Wiggins Jr. 

Parking Update

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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