Offense Shines In Spring Game With, 53-19, Victory
ALBANY, N.Y. – Winning by a score of 53-19, the University at Albany football team’s offense dominated Saturday’s annual Spring Game, held for the first time at Bob Ford Field. Donning white jerseys, the offense totaled 340 passing yards, 108 rushing yards, and scored three touchdowns.
Soon-to-be senior quarterback Will Fiacchi led the team with 199 passing yards, completing 17-of-22 passes, including his first seven of the afternoon. Fiacchi also threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brian Parker in the offense’s first drive of the game.
“I think the offense did a good job of finishing drives today,” said Fiacchi. “The offensive line protected and we spread the ball really well. The team’s morale is really great right now.”
UAlbany tested out four quarterbacks in the friendly and 14 different players logged receptions. Guilderland native Ryan Smith completed 6-of-14 passes for 73 yards, redshirt freshman Shane Sweeney completed 6-of-9 passes for 42 yards, and transfer Dan Harding completed 5-of-9 attempts for 26 yards.
Senior Cole King was the top receiver of the game, totaling five receptions for 61-yards. Fiacchi connected an 11-yard pass and a 33-yard pass to King in the first half that both led to rushing touchdowns in the respective drives. Wide receiver Jake Meek, as well as halfbacks Nic Ketter and Pat O’Connor were also solid targets, each pulling in four receptions.
The white team also covered the turf well, led by senior Omar Osbourne’s 10 carries for 24 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Andre Martin also rushed for a goal-line touchdown and totaled 33 rushing yards on nine carries. Presley Beauvais and Karl Allison also got some handoffs, each rushing five times.
Defensively, the purple squad recorded five sacks and Nick Beach snagged a first-quarter interception at the five-yard line. Mathieu LaDucer and Rayshan Clark led the defense with eight tackles each, followed by Marcel Ngachie’s five tackles and a sack. Michael Nicastro (four tackles), Ralph Douyon (four tackles), and Zach Troutman also recorded a sack in the controlled scrimmage.
“I thought all-and-all the defense played hard,” said Head Coach Greg Gattuso. “Spring games are always hard on the defense.”
The format of the game included two 15-minute quarters in the first half and two 10-minute running clock quarters in the second. The offense was awarded six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal, one point for a PAT, one point for a first down, one point for a big run (12+ yards), one point for a long pass (20+ yards), and one point if they convert on fourth down.
On the other side of the ball, the defense earned six points if they forced a turnover, three points for a missed field goal, two points for a sack, one point if there was a missed point-after attempt, one point for a three-and-out, and one point for a fourth down stop.
With the spring season over, the Great Danes now look ahead to the program’s second season in the CAA and first under the direction of Coach Gattuso. UAlbany opens up 2014 at home versus Holy Cross on Aug. 30th.
