Hometown Heroes Preview

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns home this Saturday, Sept. 19, to face off against CAA foe Monmouth at Casey Stadium. It’s the program’s annual Hometown Heroes Game, honoring those who serve at home and abroad and keep our communities safe.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with coverage on FloCollege. 

GAME 4 INFO

UAlbany (2-1, 1-0 CAA) vs. Monmouth (1-2, 1-0 CAA)

Saturday, September 19 | 3:30 PM

Albany, N.Y. | Tom & Mary Casey Stadium

Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets

HOMETOWN HEROES

This Saturday’s matchup marks UAlbany Football’s annual Hometown Heroes Game, a Capital Region tradition dedicated to recognizing the extraordinarily brave men and women who serve our communities and country. The initiative provides the program, university, and fan base a dedicated platform to express their deepest appreciation for local military personnel, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and healthcare workers.

The 2026 game marks the 13th consecutive season the Great Danes have honored military service members while recognizing the family of Army Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark. An Albany native and graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, Lt. Col. Clark gave the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in action in Afghanistan. In tandem with honoring military sacrifices, this fall also marks the sixth straight year UAlbany has expanded the event to celebrate the ongoing efforts of the Capital Region’s first responders and frontline healthcare professionals.

To visibly carry that tribute onto the field, Great Dane players will wear customized headgear for Saturday’s contest. UAlbany’s traditional helmets will be outfitted with a special American Flag Great Dane decal, accompanied by personalized nameplates across the back bumpers displaying the individual names of local hometown heroes submitted by fans, families, and community 

PERKOVICH ERA OFF TO A STRONG START

The Tom Perkovich era at UAlbany is officially underway, and the early results point toward an exciting new chapter for Great Danes Football. Officially introduced as the program's head coach in December 2025, Coach Perkovich arrived in the Capital Region following an extraordinary 10-season run at Susquehanna University, where he compiled an 84-25 overall record (.771 winning percentage) while leading the River Hawks to four consecutive conference titles and four straight NCAA DIII Tournament appearances.

Known for building high-powered offenses and culture-driven programs, Perkovich has hit the ground running in his inaugural Division I campaign. The Great Danes have surged out of the gate with a 2-1 start, securing back-to-back dominant wins over FCS foes New Hampshire and LIU, while taking FBS opponent Buffalo down to the wire in a tight 21-17 thriller. The team will look to continue building on this momentum on Saturday afternoon. 

F-R-E-E FOR STUDENTS

Admission is FREE for all UAlbany undergraduate students to all home athletic events. To secure tickets for football games, students must claim their free ticket in advance using the official UAlbany Sports App and have their mobile ticket ready to scan at the gate.

GREAT DANE GAMEDAY MOVES TO FIELD CLUB
The premier fan experience upgrade of the 2026 season is Great Dane Game Day, presented by Pepsi, moving inside of Casey Stadium with direct access to both the Broadview and Grass parking lots during pregame. Great Dane Game Day now opens 2.5 hours prior to kickoff in the Field Club area and is free and open to the general public with no game ticket required for entry. The area will feature music by Vara DJs, local food and beverage trucks, family games, inflatables, and field-level views of team warmups. Approximately 40 minutes prior to kickoff, fans will be asked to exit the Field Club and head to the main gates to scan their tickets and pass through security. Once inside, ticketed fans can return to the Field Club to enjoy full food and beverage concessions while watching the game just steps from the action.

UPDATED PREGAME TIMELINE 

Fans are encouraged to lock in their tailgate, head into Casey Stadium early, and be in their seats well before kickoff to catch every moment of the updated pregame schedule. Teams will take the field for warmups approximately 60 minutes prior to kickoff, followed by a pregame performance from the Marching Great Danes, UAlbany Cheer, and UAlbany Dance teams approximately 20 minutes before game start. The official team intro video will air six minutes prior, leading directly into the Great Danes taking the field. The coin toss featuring team captains from both squads will take place immediately following the entrance, culminating with the playing of the National Anthem right before kickoff with the Great Danes lined up on the field.

TAILGATING & PARKING

Located in the grass lots positioned right next to Casey Stadium, UAlbany’s gameday parking setup offers an incredible tailgating atmosphere just steps from the field. Moving gameday parking directly adjacent to the stadium has created a shorter walk, higher energy, and a premier environment for Great Danes fans to gather before kickoff.

• Early Parking Access: Parking lots open 4 hours prior to kickoff, giving fans ample time to set up and celebrate.
• Prime Tailgating Atmosphere: Grass-lot parking directly surrounding the stadium delivers the ultimate pregame environment.
• 10' x 10' Tailgate Space: Every single parking spot includes a dedicated 10' x 10' area for tents, grills, and pregame setups.
• Save on Parking: Fans who purchase single-game parking are encouraged to do so in advance to save $5 over the gameday rate. 

To secure your spot and lock in advance savings, click here. 

TICKETS

Have you secured your tickets yet? What are you waiting for?!

Be there live to support the Great Danes!. Single-game tickets and full season packages can be purchased in advance online by clicking here. Tickets can also be bought in person on game day at the box office, or secured by reaching out directly to the UAlbany Athletics Ticket Office at (518) 442-DANE (3263) or GreatDaneTickets@albany.edu. 

Don't wait until kickoff—lock in your seats early!

QUICK NOTES – SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES 

• Balanced Ground Attack: UAlbany's rushing defense and run game have set the tone early. The Great Danes average 184.0 rushing yards per game while holding opponents to just 118.7 yards on the ground.
• Koch Leading the Backfield: Running back Joey Koch has emerged as a major explosive threat, leading the team with 216 rushing yards on just 25 carries—averaging an impressive 8.6 yards per carry—highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown run. 
• Red-Zone Finishers: Quarterback Aidan Semo leads the team with three rushing touchdowns in short-yardage situations, helping UAlbany convert on 83.3% of its red-zone trips (10-for-12). 
• Air Attack Connections: Quarterback Kai Colón has thrown for 455 yards and 5 touchdowns through three games. Wideout BJ Norman leads the receiving corps with 13 receptions for 127 yards, while Jordan Rae (105 receiving yards, 1 TD) averages a team-high 15.0 yards per catch. 
• All-Purpose Playmakers: All-around threat Rahshan La Mons leads the team with 266 all-purpose yards, contributing in the run game (151 yards), receiving game (47 yards), and on punt returns (68 yards, 22.7 avg). 
• Holt & Pruitt Anchoring the Defense: Safety Victor Holt leads the Great Danes' defense with 22 total tackles (13 solo), followed closely by linebacker Jeremiah Pruitt with 19 tackles. 
• Relentless Pass Rush: The defense has recorded 7.0 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Shawan Lewis leads the pass rush with 3.0 sacks and 4.0 TFLs, while linebacker Dillon Dunathan has added 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs, and the team’s lone interception. 
• Special Teams Reliability: Kicker RJ Kocan remains perfect on point-after attempts (11-for-11) and nailed a season-long 46-yard field goal. Punter Gavin Myers has flipped the field effectively, averaging 44.3 yards per punt with three kicks over 50 yards.

QUICK NOTES – SCOUTING THE WILDCATS 

• Conference Slate Underway: Monmouth enters Saturday's matchup at 1-2 overall (1-0 CAA) following a non-conference trip to FBS opponent Western Michigan. The Hawks opened CAA play with a 31-24 home win over Sacred Heart on Sept. 5.
• Air Attack Led by Weaver: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Frankie Weaver leads the Hawks' offense, coming off a 273-yard passing performance with a touchdown against Western Michigan.
• Backfield Rotation: Running backs Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr. pace the Monmouth ground game, with Jennings posting a team-high 87 rushing yards last week and scoring in the Hawks' season opener at Tennessee Tech.
• Targeting Tra Neal: Wide receiver Tra Neal continues to serve as a primary target downfield, pulling in a touchdown catch last weekend in Kalamazoo. Gavin Nelson leads the team with 192 receiving yards on 20 receptions. 
• Defensive Anchor: The Monmouth defense is anchored Jaeden Jones leading a returning core after posting 118 tackles a season ago.

UALBANY FOOTBALL WEEKLY

Get complete, behind-the-scenes access to the program all season long with the return of "UAlbany Football Weekly" presented by Broadview! Airing every gameday throughout the fall, the all-access show gives fans an exclusive inside look at Great Dane football. Each episode features mic'd up segments, the "100-Yard Walk," and in-depth game recaps and previews with head coach Tom Perkovich, the coaching staff, and student-athletes.

Full episodes will air on gameday and can be accessed at UAlbanySports.com and on the official WNYT YouTube Channel. Fans can also follow @UAlbanyFootball on social media for exclusive segments, previews, and highlight clips posted throughout the week.
 
Click here to access all shows for 2026 as they drop, or click here to visit the WNYT YouTube channel.

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