Forget about 2022. A new year is here, and no team in the newly named Coastal Athletic Conference is more eager to get it started than the University at Albany.

The Great Danes begin the season a week before all the other CAA programs do in Week 1 as they open the season with Fordham at 7 p.m. ET at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany. 

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UAlbany finished the 2022 season 3-8 and 2-6 in the CAA

However, despite the struggles, UAlbany won its home finale in 2022 with a 23-21 win over Maine. 

But that was last year and coach Greg Gattuso is looking to get the Great Danes back on track and that starts in Week 0 the home opener. 

But it won’t be easy. Fordham went 9-3 and 5-1 in the Patriot League. The Rams lost to CAA Co-Champion New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs, 52-42. 

Can the Great Danes get back on the right track? Will standout UAlbany quarterback Reese Poffenbarger kickoff his Walter Payton Award campaign with a win? 

Follow live as FloFootball provides updates from Albany.

Live on FloFootball: Fordham vs UAlbany

Final Stats

• Score: Fordham- 13 UAlbany- 34
• Rushing: Fordham-37 UAlbany-146
• Passing: Fordham-198 UAlbany-253
• First Downs: Fordham-16 UAlbany-23
• Penalty Yards: Fordham-60 UAlbany- 60
• Time of Possession: Fordham- 25:33 UAlbany-31:41

Great Danes Take the Victory at Home Opener

Concluding with UAlbany possession, the game ends with a score of 34-13, with the Great Danes taking the win at their home opener. Next, they will take on Hawaii on September 2nd. 

Player of the Game: Reese Poffenbarger

Presented by Broadview Federal Credit Union, #7 Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, is the player of the game with 23 completions, 40 attempts, 252 yards, and four touchdowns. 

Field Goal By UAlbany: Nearing End of Game

UAlbany finishes their drive with 9 plays and and 67 yards. After an incomplete pass short right to Wentz by Poffenarger,  kicker, Opalko achieves a 26-yard field goal attempt with 7:14 left in the game.
Score is now UAlbany 34, Fordham 13.

A Close Call: Touchdown UAlbany

Beginning the fourth quarter, with an impressive 30 yard touchdown by UAlbany. A no huddle-shotgun by Poffenbarger pass was complete deep right to Easton. The play was under review, and was determined complete. Kick by Opalko was good.
Score is now Albany 31, Fordham 13 with 13 minutes left in the game. 

Sellout Opener: Fans Max Out Stadium

Casey Stadium is packed to its maximum capacity at 8,500 fans, contributing to the energy for this football season opener. 

Lead is Extending by a Field Goal

UAlbany successfully kicks a field goal from 21 yards, extending their lead to 24-13. In Fordhams highlights from their defensive side with a sack and a incomplete pass. Currently Fordham's drive concludes after covering 76 yards. UAlbany's dirve was cut short after three plays for just 9 yards.

Fordham's Drive in the Third Quarter: Touchdown by the Rams

Beginning the third quarter, UAlbany had the ball on their 35-yard line and facing a 3rd and 14 situation. Fordham's drive covered 76 yards in 9 plays in over 3 minutes. Their possession began with a penalty, but a successful pass from Montes to Thornton resulting in a touchdown after review. Kick attempt is good from kicker Peskin.
The score now stands UAlbany 21, and Fordham 13. 

Halftime Stats 

• Score: Fordham- 6 UAlbany- 21
• Rushing: Fordham-33 UAlbany-43
• Passing: Fordham-76 UAlbany-153
• First Downs: Fordham-6 UAlbany-12
• Penalty Yards: Fordham-15 UAlbany- 35
• Timeof Possession: Fordham- 8:41 UAlbany-19:26

"More of the same in the second half, but better," UAlbany Coach Comments On Team's Performance

Heading into halftime, UAlbany is beating the odds, as they take the lead with three touchdowns in the first half. UAlbany Head Coach, Greg Gattuso, states, "I just want us to keep playing smart." Although the defensive has a troubling start, the offense came in strong, putting up a challenge for Fordham. "On offensive, I would like to see us run the ball better, but I think right now 21 points we are happy with. We'd like to do that again in the second half, I think we could get a win," Gattuso said. 

21-6: Heading Into Halftime, UAlbany Maintaining The Lead

Closing the first half of the game, UAlbany greatly secures the lead with a successful PAT kick, which advances their score to 21 points against Fordham's 6.  The secured touchdown was made possible by a precise pass from Poffenbarger to Alexander, which was confirmed after review. These strategic plays led to a great opening offensive performance, while Fordham's drive was met with challenges, this included a sack and fumble recovery.
The quarter concluded with UAlbany maintaining control of the game with a 21- lead. 

UAlbany's Offensive Surge: Touchdown

UAlbany asserted their offensive prowess yet again. Starting from Fordham's 3-yard line, UAlbany secured a successful kick attempt, adding to their lead. Soon after, Reese Poffenbarger's pass and successful rush peaked in a 8-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Woodell. UAlbany continue to advance.
The score is  UAlbany 14, Fordham 6

Resilient Drive and Defensive Standoff

In the series of plays in the second quarter, UAlbany made gradual progress against Fordham's defense, with short passes to Hicks and Parker leading to a first down. Despite facing challenges like penalties and losses, UAlbany continued to move forward. Fordham's defense responded with a sack on Montes, highlighting the intense battle of defense with both teams.
The score is still UAlbany 7, Fordham 6

Second Quarter Showdown: Defensive Battles

Facing a challenging drive, Fordham starts at their 21-yard line. A false start penalty pushed them back to their 16-yard line. Quarterback C.J. Montes was sacked for a loss of 6 yards, adding to the defensive pressure exerted by UAlbany. UAlbany's subsequent drive featured several plays, an incomplete pass by Reese Poffenbarger on fourth and 6, giving the Rams possession on their 26-yard line.
We witnessed a succesful 26-yard field goal by Fordham, adding 3 points to their score, bringing it to 6 points. The score is now UAlbany 7, Fordham 6

Great Danes Strikes, Rams Respond with Field Goal 

 Action was intense right away, UAlbany's initial drive began on their 47-yard line, and quarterback C.J. Montes orchestrated a no-huddle shotgun play, connecting with Jaden Allen for a significant 38-yard gain to Fordham's 15-yard line. This quarter also featured several drives notable plays, including a 30-yard field goal by Fordham, putting them on the scoreboard with 3 points. Quarter concluded, UAlbany holding a 7-3 lead over Fordham.

First Quarter Action Unfolds: Early lead by the Great Danes

A packed stadium this evening to celebrate the first touchdown. With 5 and half minutes left in the first quarter, UAlbany is on top of Fordham with a short touchdown pass. No Huddle-Shotgun Poffenbarger pass complete to Alexandar for 6 yards. The kick attempt by Opalko is good. 7-0: Check out the first touchdown:

That's #1 for #2 :v:#UAUKNOW #WinTheDay :large_purple_square::large_yellow_square: pic.twitter.com/DDmkNAB0PX

— UAlbany Football (@UAlbanyFootball) August 26, 2023

Game is Underway: Fordham Wins Coin Toss

With Fordham winning the coin toss, UAlbany will receive the kickoff to begin the 2023 season, with a ver successful offense last year. UAlbany's starting offense: #7 ReesePoffenbarger, #0 Faysal Aden, #1 Julian Hicks, #2 Roy Alexander,#87 Ian Renninger, #73 Scott houseman, #65 Ozzie Hutchinson, #70 Austin Mosier, #77 Nolan Latulippe, and #72 Will Marotta. We are ready for kickoff, Great Danes vs the Rams.

Fordham’s 2022 Football Season in Review

Fordham’s 2022 football season was a showcase of offensive powers, with a team average of 49.50 points per game, with a season total of 594 points. Important to note their impressive first downs, with a total of 357. Their rushing game was well grounded, gaining 2,642 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns, with completions of 333 out of 507 attempts, totaling 4,965 yards and 58 touchdowns. The kicking team also showed out last season with a consistency of 12 out of 17 field goals made.

University at Albany's 2022 Football Season in Review

In the 2022 season, University at Albany's team stats are a great reflection of their determined performance on the field. They scored an average of 29.64 points per game, with a grand total of 326 points. Their offense displayed versatility, gaining 1,735 rushing yards and 3,027 passing yards, resulting in an offensive total of 4,431 yards. The efforts by the team were evident in their time of possession at about 29 minutes and 57 seconds per game. On the defensive end, they averaged about 60 yards per game, with 28 touchdowns out of 43 attempts.

Albany Weather Forecast

Let’s talk weather at the Tom and Mary Casey Stadium in Albany. Right now, it’s looking like we’ve got some partly cloudy skies and a current temperature of around 63°. The chance of rain remains low at just 16% with a cool breeze coming in from the north-northwest. This sounds like the perfect setting for the exciting season opener kickoff!  

Fordham Football News

The Fordham University Rams are gearing up for an early start to their 123rd varsity football season. This is an interesting game for Rams fans as this is the first time that Tim DeMorat won’t be leading the team after 35 games. Although they do have a full roster of standout players like linebacker James Conway and wide receiver MJ Wright, who both have earned Preseason All-American honors. They are also coming into the game with a record to boast about as the highest win count in the New York college football scene since 2012. They are setting the stage for an exciting early season match up with a strong record of 9-3 in 2022.

UAlbany vs. Fordham Odds

For UAlbany, this is the first home game against Fordham since 2014. This season opener showdown brings a dynamic mix of odds into play. With a narrow spread favoring Fordham for this game, it is suspected to be a closely contested event. We should see a high scoring match, which adds excitement and anticipation for fans. Considering the last game in 2022, the Great Danes fell 48-45 to the Rams. This offers an exciting start to the season.  

What To Know About QB Reese Poffenbarger in 2023

Get ready to witness the magic of quarterback Reese Poffenbarer in action! This sophomore sensation from UAlbany’s football team is poised to make waves this season. With an athletic background that’s hard to ignore, Poffenbarger has already established himself as a conference standout and a contender for the national Jerry Rice Award. Last season, he wowed everyone with 2,999 yards, 24 touchdowns, and an impressive 61.5 percent pass completion rate. While he’s without his top target from before, Poffenbarger has a stacked receiving team to rely on which includes Julian Hicks, Roy Alexander, Jackon Parker, and Brevin Easton. Keep your eyes on the field for this QB spotlight!

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UAlbany Football Schedule 2023

All times Eastern

• Aug. 26: Fordham, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 9: at Hawaii, 12 a.m.
• Sept. 23: at Morgan State, 6 p.m. 
• Sept. 30: Villanova, 3:30 p.m.
• Oct. 7: at Towson, 4 p.m.
• Oct. 14: at New Hampshire, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 21: Rhode Island, 3:30 p.m.
• Oct. 28: at Maine, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 4: William & Mary, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 11: at Stony Brook, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 18: Monmouth, 1 p.m.

CAA Football Schedule 

UAlbany is the only CAA program opening the season in Week 0. All the other schools begin in Week 1. Here’s the schedule: 

All times Eastern

Thursday, Aug. 31: 

• Rhode Island at Georgia State, 7 p.m. 
• Delaware at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.
• William & Mary at Campbell, 7 p.m. 
• Elon at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. 
• N.C. A&T at UAB, 8 p.m. 

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Villanova at Lehigh, noon
• New Hampshire at Stonehill, 1 p.m. 
• Hampton at Grambling, 3 p.m. 
• Towson at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. 
• UAlbany at Marshall, 6 p.m. 
• Monmouth at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m. 
• Morgan State at Richmond, 6 p.m. 
• Maine at FIU, 6:30 p.m.