UAlbany Starts The Season Off With A Win Over Fordham

“ I couldn’t be more proud of those guys. They have been struggling all off season with everybody thinking they are not a good defense. Last year they were put in a lot of bad positions and really just had a hard time gelling with a lot of talent. Like I told you guys the other day in camp they would have our number and then we would have their number. Last camp it was not like that. I knew that they were going to be a great defense, and I knew that AJ and Antoine were going to be the two best defensive ends in the conference.” UAlbany Quarterback Reese Poffenburger

For the first official week for College/ CAA football, the conference started off between Albany and Fordham. The season with what was supposed to be a matchup between two high powered defenses. The difference between this game and last season’s game, is only one offense was able to show out. When the game started UAlbany received the ball first and their first drive resulted in a punt. What was more shocking was the Rams first drive also resulted in a punt. When usually they are scoring within two minutes of the start of the first drive. 

When UAlbany got the ball back, on their next possession they put together a twelve play 60 yard drive. Which resulted in Poffenburger completing a six yard pass to wide receiver Roy Alexander. What was more impressive about that drive was that it took six minutes. The Great Danes wore the Rams defense down, and out of rhythm.

On the next two possessions Fordham scored on their next two drives. One of those

scores were only field goals. By the second quarter, the Great Danes took over. Even though they were unsuccessful on their previous drive going four and out. Once they got the ball back, they put together another long drive 12 plays and 61 yards. Which took another six minutes off the clock. This drive ended in a 8 yard touchdown pass from Poffenburger to Woodall that gave the great Danes the lead 14-6. The defense fed off of that momentum. 

On the next possession the Great Danes caused a fumble and recovered the ball. Within 22 seconds Poffenburger hit Roy Alexander for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Giving the Great Danes a 21-6 lead going into halftime.

In the second half you could sense that Fordham was going to come out swinging . On their first drive of the half, they completed a nine play 76 yard drive. Which resulted in a touchdown pass from Montes to Thorton. This would cut the lead from thirteen to eight 21-13. With the lead being cut to eight, you think here comes the Rams’ offense. 

It was just the opposite. It seemed to wake up UAlbany. With the Rams scoring, the game was still in Albany favor. The Rams had to put together nine plays to score, and UAlbany answered right back with a ten-play drive. Taking another almost six minutes off the clock. By the fourth quarter the Great Danes put the dagger into the Rams. Reese Poffenburger completed a 30 yard touchdown pass to receiver Brevin Easton, to put them up by 18 (31-13). 

"It's God's plan not mine" – Brevin Easton #CAAFB @CAAFootball #UALBANYFootball @UAlbanyFootball pic.twitter.com/SatXogQEQL

— Enveonline (@Enveonline) August 27, 2023

From that point on the Great Danes never looked back as they completely shut out Fordham for the whole fourth quarter.  As Coach Gattuso expressed after the game we really started to wear them down physically the second half of the game as they won 34-13.