University at Albany Great Danes

Score: UAlbany 32, Delaware State 37
  
Location: Alumni Stadium in Dover, Delaware
  
Records: UAlbany (0-2, 0-0 CAA) | Delaware State (1-1, 0-0 Big MEAC) 

Short Story: The University at Albany football team fell to the Delaware State Hornets 37-32 on the road in Dover, Delaware

Key Stat Lines 

• Jack Shields recorded five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing.
• Tavahri Groves, Caden Burti, Carter Moses, and Steven Mahar Jr. all recorded a touchdown pass from Shields
• Owen Lawson nailed a big punt, pinning the Hornets at the one-yard line
• Ibrahim Sanogo recorded three sacks against the Hornets

 
Head Coach Jared Ambrose:  "I felt like we ran the ball well when we needed to, and we've got to keep building on that. I thought Jack [Shields] played another good game. Statistically, it should look pretty solid, but overall, everything still needs to get tighter and better."
 
How it Happened: 

• The Great Danes were the first to strike on just the second play of the game. Jack Shields found Tavahri Groves wide open on a 75-yard strike to jump out to a 7-0 lead. The score was the first of Groves' collegiate career.
• Delaware State went for it on fourth-and-one on their first possession, but the UAlbany defense held firm to turn the ball over.
• The Hornets were able to tie the game with 7:40 remaining in the first on a rush from Marquis Gillis, capping an 80-yard drive.
• UAlbany pushed the score to 14-7 later in the first when Shields used his offensive line to push the ball across the goal line himself from a yard out. The score was the final play of a nine-play 75-yard drive highlighted by a long reception from Groves and big rushes from Griffin Woodell and Jojo Uga.
• A 37-yard rush from Kaiden Bennett on Delaware State's next possession tied the score, 14-14, with 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
• The Hornets had an opportunity to take a 17-14 lead midway through the second, but a 35-yard kick from went wide.
• The Great Danes re-took the lead with just a minute on the clock in the second half. Shields found wideout Caden Burti on a 35-yard strike for the 20-14 advantage. The extra point was no good.
• Delaware State's Bennett recorded his second rushing TD of the afternoon early in the third, running it in from 31 yards out on a QB draw to give the Hornets their first lead of the game, 21-20.
• The Hornets' defense forced a fumble from Uga halfway through the third, setting up inside UAlbany territory. Delaware State capitalized with a 40-yard field goal to take a 24-20 lead.
• Line up on the six-yard line, Sean Weston finds a hole up the middle and into the endzone to put Delaware State ahead 31-32
• Marching down the field, Jack Shields threw his third touchdown pass of the game, hitting Carter Moses in the back of the endzone on a 17-yard pass to make it a 27-31 Hornets lead.
• A crucial sack from Ibrahim Sanogo on a three-and-out Hornets drive led to a failed trick-punt and turnover on downs, giving the Great Danes the ball on the Hornets' 12-yard line.
• With the ball on the six-yard line, Shields threw a bullet to Steven Mahar Jr., making the heavily pressured catch, to regain the lead 32-31 with 4:38 to go in the fourth.
• Bennett recorded his third rushing TD of the game, running from the 27-yard line and into the endzone, taking a 37-32 lead with 34 seconds remaining in the game.
• With the Great Danes gaining possession at the 20-yard line, they were unable to drive the ball down the field in time before time expired, giving Delaware State the 37-32 victory.

  
Next: The Great Danes are set to face off against New Haven next Saturday night in the team's home opener at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.