Score: UAlbany 17, #15 Rhode Island 20
  
Location: Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I.
  
Records: UAlbany (3-8, 1-6 CAA) | #15 Rhode Island (9-2, 6-1 CAA) 
  
Short Story: The University at Albany football team took a 17-0 lead into the locker room at halftime on the road against #15 Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon, but a second half surge from the Rams was too much for the Great Danes to fend off. A blocked field goal with two seconds remaining sealed the game for the Rams.
 
Key Stat Lines 

• Quarterback Van Weber made his first collegiate start. The rookie went 31-51 passing for 354 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
• Levi Wentz led the receiving corps with 138 yards through the air.
• Caden Burti (76 yards) and Seven McGee (71 yards, TD) also enjoyed a solid day through the air.
• Alex Jreige led the ground game with 62 yards, taking in his first collegiate TD on a six-yard shuffle pass.
• Dontae Lunan led the defense with 15 tackles, 1.5 of which went for a loss. He also recorded two interceptions.
• Dasean Dixon (1.5), Ron Holmes (0.5), and Jack Iuliano (0.5) also recorded TFLs.

  
How it Happened: 

• UAlbany struck first on its opening drive, settling for a 38-yard field goal from John Opalko. The Great Danes' offense looked good early, snapping 12 plays on the opening drive before sending out the kicking unit.

• After the defense forced a three-and-out from URI, the next UAlbany offensive possession was even better. The Great Danes marched 79 yards on 17 plays for the score, a six-yard shuffle pass from Van Webber to Alex Jreige for the first TD of his collegiate career. The drive had two key moments, moth converted by UAlbany – a 4^th-and-1 where the defense jumped offsides, and a 3^rd-and-18 that was converted on a pass to Seven McGee.
• Dontae Lunan created the first turnover of the game early in the second, intercepting URI's Hunter Helms at the UAlbany 35-yard line and stopping the Rams' assault.
• The Rams nearly had a game-altering play late in the second on a long punt return to the house, but official review deemed URI's returner called for a fair catch – negating the play.
• The Great Danes made it 17-0 in the final minute of play in the first half when Weber found McGee on a 25-yard strike to the end zone, finishing off a six-play drive.
• The Rams had an opportunity to get points on the board before the end of the first half with a 49-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked by UAlbany's Donny Jones.
• The Rams came out of the locker room hot, going 64 yards on just three plays to make it a 17-7 game. Malik Grant was the hero of the drive, ripping off a 42-yard rush for the score.
• The Great Danes tried to answer on the ensuing drive, but a fumble out of the URI end zone halted the offense and gave possession back to the Rams.
• UAlbany's next possession also resulted in a turnover, this time an interception thrown to Jalen Neal with just over seven minutes remaining in the third.
• URI took the turnover and went 72 yards to make it a 17-13 game, capped by a one-yard rush from Grant. The extra point was blocked by UAlbany's Erv. Wiggins Jr.
• The Rams took their first lead of the day midway through the fourth on Grant's third touchdown of the day, this one from seven yards out to make it 20-17.
• With just under three minutes remaining in the game, the UAlbany offense was able to march into the URI red zone – but a costly interception gave the ball back to the Rams still up 20-17.
• The UAlbany offense was given the ball, down three, inside URI territory with about 1:30 remaining in the game. UAlbany's Opalko attempted a 36-yard field goal with two seconds remaining, but the attempt was blocked by Westley Neal Jr. to end the game.

  
Next: The Great Danes wrap up the season next weekend with a home contest against Hampton for Senior Day. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X and Instagram and by following UAlbany Athletics on Facebook.