Football Hosts Hampton on Senior Day

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns home for the final time this season when the Great Danes host Hampton this Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET with coverage on Flo Football and 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio in Albany. 

Game Info

Saturday, Nov 23. vs Hampton

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

1:00 p.m.

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

Senior Day

Before kickoff on Saturday, the program will honor 17 seniors with a pregame ceremony. For a full list of seniors walking, see below. 

Jamal Cooney

Jacari Carter

Marcus Winfield

Chebuka Aduaka

Seven McGee

Dasean Winston

Kevon Angry

Cedric Carter

Kenny Santos

Stephen Demeo

Faysal Aden

Trey Lindsey

Ghassan Chehade

Jackson Parker

Scott Houseman

Will Marotta

Ozzie Hutchinson

Leading the Pack

• Van Weber took over the starting quarterback role last week at URI. In two games this season, he has thrown for 555 yards and three touchdowns, including two touchdown passes and 354 passing yards last week in his first collegiate start. 
• This season, quarterback Myles Burkett has thrown for 1,845 yards and 10 touchdowns on 145 completions in nine games. Burkett has not played since UAlbany’s contest against New Hampshire on Nov. 2.
• Seven McGee caught a touchdown last week at URI, bringing his team-leading total up to six on the season. He is also the leader in receiving yards (619), receptions (45), and yards per game (68.78).
• On the ground Alex Jreige led the way last week, collecting 62 rushing yards while averaging just shy of five yards a carry. He also recorded a receiving touchdown, the first of his collegiate career.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Dontae Lunan has recorded 118 total tackles, which leads the CAA. He also leads the CAA in tackles per game, averaging 10.7 per game.
• UAlbany has recorded 19 sacks as a team this season, and four different players have recorded multiple. In total, 15 different players have recorded a sack this year.
• KC Eziomume leads the team in PBUs with five. He Is followed by Erv Wiggins Jr. (4), Kevon Angry (3), and Patrick Denzel (3).
• Punter Owen Lawson is averaging 42.7 yards per punt, which is sixth in the CAA. He has also had 17 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line.
• Kicker John Opalko has gone 9-16 of field goals this year.

Last Time Against Hampton

The last time the Great Danes took on Hampton was in 2022, the first meeting between the two schools. UAlbany fell just short at home, losing 38-37 in overtime. Reese Poffenbarger had a great day, completing 26 passes for 337 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. His top target was Thomas Greaney, who tallied 110 yards and two touchdowns on six grabs. On the ground, Todd Sibley recorded 65 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The defense was able to pick off the Hampton offense twice, with both AJ Simon and Jackson Ambush recording an interception. Jackson was also tied with Dylan Kelly for the team lead with nine total tackles.

Scouting Hampton

The Pirates are 5-6 coming into this weekend’s matchup following a 24-21 loss to Richmond last Saturday. The Pirates have lost three straight after starting the season 5-3.

The Hampton offense showcases two quarterbacks who have both played in all 11 games. Chris Zellous leads the two in completions (101) and yards (980), but Malcolm Mays has 10 touchdown passes. Zellous has only passed for three touchdowns but has rushed for six. Receiver Brennan Ridley is the team’s top target, recording 560 yards and four touchdowns on the year. On the ground, touches are split between three running backs: Ja’Quan Snipes has totaled 531 yards and six touchdowns, Elijah Burris has 489 yards and four touchdowns, and Tymere Robinson has 363 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Defensively, 17 players have at least half a sack, and the team has 28 in total. Akie Nance leads the team with 4.5 on the season. Two players, Tre Everett III and Jordan White, have tallied multiple Interceptions.

Mental Health Awareness 

UAlbany’s chapter of The Hidden Opponent (THO) will host a table at Saturday’s game to help spread awareness for student-athlete mental health. In addition, THO will be joined by UAlbany Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Middle Earth, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

The Hidden Opponent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture. 

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The organization believes that all student-athletes should be able to speak openly about their mental health experiences without worrying about being judged or viewed as weak. 

For more information on The Hidden Opponent, click here. 

Food Frenzy

UAlbany's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be at the game this weekend collecting items for the annual America East food drive, Food Frenzy. Community support is appreciated as UAlbany teams compete against other schools in the America East. Donations that are collected will be taken to the Regional Food Bank in Albany. 

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, Dasean Dixon will have the special honor of wearing #8 in game for the second time 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 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. 

Nov. 9 at Stony Brook – Jack Iuliano

Nov. 16 at Rhode Island – Ghassan Chehade

Nov. 23 vs. Hampton – Dasean Dixon

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. 

Parking Update

Due to poor conditions, the University at Albany has initiated its inclement weather parking policy for Saturday’s game. All single game parking will revert back to Dutch Lot. All Grass Lot parking passes will be honored at Dutch Lot. 

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