Score: UAlbany 31, #12 Monmouth 24
  
Location: Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
  
Records: UAlbany (2-10, 1-7 CAA) | #12 Monmouth (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany football team shocked the FCS world on Saturday afternoon, taking down nationally ranked Monmouth (#12 STATS Perform, #11 AFCA Coaches) by a score of 31-24.

Key Stat Lines 

• Quarterback Jack Shields went 18-25 passing, throwing for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
• Lasalle Rose Jr. hauled in six receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
• Aidan Semo recorded his sixth game in a row with a rushing touchdown.
• Chris Gales led the defense with 12 tackles, including the game-ending sack.

 
How it Happened: 

• The Hawks went for it on fourth down on their opening drive around midfield, but the UAlbany defense held firm to set the offense up in good position.

• The offense took advantage, driving the ball 60 yards on eight plays for a Lasalle Rose Jr. touchdown. Rose Jr. took in three receptions for 38 yards on the drive, including the 13-yard score.
• Monmouth responded by driving all the way to the UAlbany 1-yard line on the Hawks' next possession. The Great Danes held at the goal line to force a field goal, pushing the score to 7-3 with under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
• The Great Danes extended the lead to 14-3 five minutes into the second quarter. Quarterback Aidan Semo entered the game and ran the ball in from 16 yards out for the touchdown to cap a seven-play, 67-yard drive.
• The score moved to 21-3 in favor of the Great Danes with under two minutes remaining when Jack Shields found tight end Riley Engelhard on a four-yard pass to the back of the end zone. UAlbany used 13 plays to go 72 yards, aided greatly by multiple Monmouth penalties that kept the drive alive.
• The Hawks threatened before the half, marching into UAlbany territory, but the Great Dane defense once again held its ground on 4^th down to force the turnover. As a result, UAlbany took a 21-3 into the locker room.
• UAlbany drove the ball 82 yards to start the second half, ending in a touchdown to Rose Jr. to push the lead to 28-3. It was Rose Jr.'s second touchdown of the game, this one on a 22-yard dot from Shields.
• On the ensuing kickoff, Parris Smiley was able to force a fumble, recovered by Donny Jones, to instantly set the Great Danes up inside Monmouth territory. UAlbany took advantage by knocking through a 25-yard field goal, courtesy of Steven Sadek, to increase the margin to 38 points, 31-3.
• The Hawks scored their first touchdown of the day with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter. Josh Derry hauled in an eight-yard reception for the score. The Haws went for two and failed, leaving the score at 31-9.
• Monmouth scored again less than a minute into the fourth quarter, this time successful with the two-point conversion, to make it a two-score game at 31-17.
• Shortly after, the Hawks had another opportunity to punch it into the end zone, but a great open field tackle from UAlbany's Denzel Patrick forced a turnover on downs with 6:32 on the clock.
• It became a one-score game with 3:19 on the clock when Monmouth found the end zone once again, this time on an eight-yard strike to Maxwell James, 31-24.
• The UAlbany offense was able to hold on to the ball for most of the remaining time on the clock. The defense came onto the field with 16 seconds remaining and sealed the game with a Chris Gales sack.

 
Next: With the conclusion of today's game, the 2025 football season officially comes to a close. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.