Score: UAlbany 16, #11 Villanova 29
  
Location: Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa.
  
Records: UAlbany (1-7, 0-4 CAA) | #11 Villanova (6-2, 5-1 CAA) 

Short Story: The University at Albany football team got ahead early, but was ultimately not able to hold on in a 29-16 loss to #11 Villanova on Saturday afternoon.

Key Stat Lines 

• Quarterback Jack Shields completed 11-26 passes for 102 yards and a TD.
• Griffin Woodell was UAlbany's main back, gaining 32 yards on eight carries.
• Tight end Carter Moses caught three receptions for 16 yards, including a TD.
• Aidan Semo got it done in the red zone with a two-yard TD rush.
• Dillon Dunathan led the team with seven tackles.
• Balansama Kamara finished with 3.5 tackles for loss.

 
Head Coach Jared Ambrose: "I thought the guys played hard. We didn't play well offensively at all in any capacity. Still too many mental errors. We're going to have to figure it out."
 
How it Happened: 

• After the defense forced a three-and-out, the UAlbany offense was able to march 46 yards for the first touchdown of the game, making it 7-0. Quarterback Jack Shields found tight end Carter Moses wide open after rolling out of the pocket for an eight-yard score.
• On the following drive, Villanova drove all the way to the UAlbany six-yard line. The Wildcats went for it on fourth down, but an errant snap gave the ball back to the Great Danes all the way up to their 24-yard line after an 18-yard loss.
• Five minutes into the second quarter, the Wildcats got their first points of the game on a five-yard scoring rush from David Avit. The extra point was blocked, however, to keep the score 7-6 in favor of UAlbany.
• UAlbany coughed the ball up on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Wildcats a short field at the UA 27-yard line. Villanova was able to convert the turnover into points on a 41-yard field goal from kicker Jack Barnum, 9-7.
• The Wildcats added three more points with 1:13 remaining before the half on a 23-yard field goal from Barnum, pushing the score to 12-7 as the teams returned to the locker room.
• UAlbany's Thomas Joe-Kamara was at the right place at the right time to record an interception early in the third, taking the ball from the Villanova 47 to the 26 to put the Great Danes deep in enemy territory.
• UAlbany attempted a 48-yard field goal on the next possession, but the attempt was blocked.
• Villanova took advantage of the blocked field goal by scoring two plays later on a 34-yard deep ball to Luke Colella, 19-7.
• On the first play of the very next drive, Villanova's Zahmir Dawud picked off UAlbany's Shields at the UAlbany 43. The Wildcats used the good field position to extend the lead to 22-7 on a 44-yard field goal.
• The score moved to 29-10 in favor of Villanova with 10:38 remaining in the game on a 36-yard strike to Colella.
• The Great Danes scored their second touchdown of the day midway through the fourth on a quarterback keeper from Aidan Semo, punching it in for the second consecutive week. The play from two yards out capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive. UAlbany went for two but the conversion failed, keeping the score 29-16.

 
Next: The Great Danes stay on the road when they visit William & Mary next Saturday afternoon. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.