8/13/2019 UAlbany vs. Duquesne (10.12.11)
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Football team wins big at home; Bob Ford wins 250th
albanystudentpress.org
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Behind the stellar performance of quarterback Dan Di Lella, the
Great
Danes got their third win of the season and Bob Ford's 250th
career win
last Saturday against the Duquesne Dukes at University
Field.
This win came in stellar fashion as the Danes routed the Dukes
38-10.
From the kickoff the game was all UAlbany.
The Danes jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter holding
the
Dukes to zero first downs and as prolific as their defense was,
the
offense was equally impressive.
Aga inst a high-ranked Duquesne team that was rece iving votes
in both
national polls go ing into the game, riding their longest win
streak in four
years, the Danes offense was clicking early with Di Lella at the
helm.
The quarterback finished the game 19 of 25 for 176 yards and two
touchdowns through air and 92 yards on the ground.
The entire first half was all Albany as it went to half 24-0
Danes.
The first touchdown came from running back Andrew Smith who
finished the day with 101 yards but did the majority of hi
work on the opening drive before pounding it in on a one yard
touchdown run up the middle.
The second score of the game came on a short field off of the
first of three interceptions for the Danes on the day and
the offense took advantage, eventually punching it in on a
1-yard pass from Di Lella to tight end Paul Booker. The third
Danes drive they allowed Di Lella to open it up and eventually
finished on a Dillon Romain 1-yard run. Romain finished
the day with 39 yards as a part of the Danes astonishing 250-
yard rushing day.
At the half it was 24-0 after Herb Glass added a 37-yard field
goal halfway through a nearly scoreless second quarter.
The Dukes attempted to put up a fight and tried to make their
way back into the game starting with the defense holding
the Danes to a three-and-out in their first possession of the
half.
The Dukes had a 10-point third quarter behind a 41-yard field
goa l and 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Conn
Dixon who extended his streak of consecutive games with a
catch.
The Great Danes attempted to take the momentum back and were
able to move the ball nicely until they were stopped
for a fourth down on the opposing 35. On a fake punt direct snap
to Andrew Smith, Smith was ab le to break a tackle to
gain the necessary few yards to continue the drive and they were
able to convert on their only fourth down conversion o
the game which eventually led to a 8-yard touchdown pass from Di
Lella to Cole King.
"I feltsomeone jump on my back and I knew I had to get their now
(to the first down)," said Smithabout the faked punt.
Smith was proud of what his team had done on the day, beating a
team many had going deep into the postseason.
"This was a championship-type game. Some people were picking
them to go to the FCS playoffs. We jumped on them
quick and it was a statement win," Smith said.
The Danes sealed the great performance moving the ball with ease
as they did all day on their way to their last
touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run from backup quarterback
Buddy Leathley.
The highlight of the day came from the ceremony honoring the
coach on his 250th win.
"It's a combination of a great staff and great young people who
believe in what you are doing," Ford said. "There were
moments today where we did all the right things. We ran
consistently and at times the defense was phenomenal."
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