Great Dane Game Day: September 11, 2021
On the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks, the University at Albany Football team lined up for an exciting game at home.
Two years ago, the UAlbany Great Danes played their last home game of the 2019 season. This finale to the season meant more to the players and fans as it was the opening round of the FCS Playoffs. It was only the second time in program history the Great Danes have made the FCS playoffs and the atmosphere reflected it, everyone was ready.
The star-studded cast of Juwan Green (WR), Eli Mencer (DE), and Jeff Undercuffler (QB) was on a record-setting season. Breaking records for touchdowns, yards, and sacks, the crew was on pace to end their home finale with a bang. After beating CCSU 41-14, the Great Dane community was exploding with a love for football.
After an injury-filled COVID-19 season ended early last spring, fans were eager to see their team return to Casey Stadium. A rematch from the fall against the University of Rhode Island promised an exciting Saturday night.
For the eighth consecutive season, the Great Danes have honored military members and heroes around the Capital Region in a Hometown Heros game. In honor of Army Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark, a local to the Albany area who was killed in action in Afghanistan, the team wore special helmets and honored his memory by running out with American flags. This year, however, the flags represented more.
Twenty years ago, not more than three hours from Albany, the nation was attacked. The moment of silence, national anthem, and patriotic smoke honored all those who lost their lives that day.
It wouldn’t be Gameday
without a tailgate.
2020 was a difficult year for the community. The restrictions did not allow for spectators to attend any games. Now, with vaccinations, allowing full capacity is achievable.
The smell of barbecue and beer filled the air. Dutch parking lot, usually used for commuting students, has transformed into a community gathering place for students, families, and members of the Great Dane fan base.
A combination of the football home debut, parent’s weekend, and a halftime fireworks show brought a crowd of over 8,100.
With the sixth-highest attendance in Casey Stadium history. The fans were ready for a show. Feeling that energy, Undercuffler began the game by hitting Mike Grey with a 51-yard pass to get the crowd fired up. After two completions to Roy Alexander and another pass to Mike Grey, the drive resulted in a touchdown to put UAlbany ahead 7-0.
The URI Rams retaliated by scoring a touchdown of their own. A drive consisting of short passes, runs down the middle, and the occasional quarterback draw brought the Rams to the endzone. An exciting punt block by Mazon Walker caused the crowd to erupt with applause. The Great Danes were off to a great start and the crowd was behind them.
With an aggressive Rams defense, the offensive line was overpowered and Undercuffler was sacked. An incomplete pass later and the Great Danes were three and out. A strong backfield led by safety Tyler Carswell and Christian Lewis kept the passes out of the hands of the receivers and a rushing defensive line consisting of Mazon Walker, Jackson Ambush, and Danny Damico held the score to 6-7.
After three uneventful drives, Sean Ralls, UAlbany’s punter, was set to punt from the Great Danes’ seven-yard line. After URI’s Coby Tippet received the punt, he unleashed possibly the nastiest spin move special teams has ever seen and ran 50 yards straight down the middle into the endzone making the score 13-7.
Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler (13) hands off the ball off to Running back Karl Mofor (21)
Running back Karl Mofor (21) advances over the collapsing offensive and defensive lines.
Powerful defenses kept the possessions out of the end zone. With the ball being punted eight total times between both teams in the second quarter, the score remained 13-7. With only 31 seconds left in the half, Tyler Carswell leaped up to intercept a pass from URI quarterback Kasim Hill and proceeded to return for 34 yards.
TIME FOR OFFENSE.
With a sack resulting in ten seconds left in the half and 34-yards from the endzone, the Great Danes were forced to punt. In a trick play, kick holder and backup quarterback Braeden Zenelovic (17) completes a 28-yard pass to Thomas Graeney narrowly missing the endzone with no time left before change of possession.
Kicker Dylan Burns (19) fakes a punt while holder Braeden Zenelovic (17) runs to the side.
Halftime fireworks, cheer and dance team performances, the marching band, and a K9 show got the crowd on their feet and excited for 30 more minutes of football.
The Great Dane defense came out of the locker room fired up and ready to go. A three and out possession for the Rams had the stadium on their feet. Karl Mofor supplied a big 18-yard rush to get UAlbany to the first down and halfway down the field. Unfortunately, two incomplete passes from Undercuffler forces the Danes to punt again.
At the start of the drive, Kasim hill hits his receiver for a 44-yard completion before two more plays that would land the Rams at Albany’s 33-yard line with a 4th & 10. The video board reads “MAKE SOME NOISE” and that is what the fans did. Erupting in yelling, the 50-yard field goal is no good.
Using the momentum of the missed field goal, the Great Dane offense marched down the field thanks to a 26-yard completion from wide receiver Mohammad Jabbie and a 13-yard completion from LJ Wesneski.
Karl Mofor (21) celebrates after scoring a touchdown, putting the Great Danes ahead 14-13.
Karl Mofor and teammates celebrate after a touchdown in the third quarter.
Now behind, the URI Rams realized they need to put points on the board in the low-scoring game. With only thirty combined points through three quarters, it seemed as though the game would come down to a single possession.
A field goal puts the Rams ahead by two points, 16-14.
This changes the momentum of the game and gets the Great Dane offense on their toes with 13 minutes of the game remaining.
On their final push, taking nearly the entire fourth quarter, the Great Danes come up short and the score 16-14 becomes final.
The Great Danes keep their heads up and prepare to face Syracuse on Sep. 18, 2021.