ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football team returns home for the first time in 2021. Saturday's matchup between the Great Danes and the Rhode Island Rams will be the first time fans are welcomed back to Casey Stadium for football since the 2019 season. The team is hosting its "Hometown Heroes" game and will honor the men and women who serve our country as well as the Capital Region's first responders and health care workers. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST, and will be streamed on FloFootball and broadcast on 103.9 FM The Breeze.
 
Game Info
Saturday, September 11 vs. Rhode Island
7:00 p.m. EST
FloFootball | 103.9 The Breeze | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
Hometown Heroes
This year marks the eighth consecutive season the Great Danes have honored military members and recognized the family of Army Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark, a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Albany who was killed in action in Afghanistan. For the second consecutive season, the program will show its appreciation for our community's police, firefighters and paramedics, and for the first time, our local health care workers who have been instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Pepsi Pregame
Fans and students are encouraged to attend the Pepsi Pregame event this Saturday from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The pregame event will feature music, games, inflatables, and more – all free to the community.
 
Tickets and Parking
New for 2021, all tickets will be distributed via mobile delivery. There will be no physical ticket books for season ticket holders. Print-At-Home (PDF) tickets will remain available should fans prefer a physical ticket option. For more information, visit UAlbanySports.com/tickets. Also new this season, fans will have the option to purchase parking tickets in advance to cut down on wait times on gameday. To purchase your parking ticket in advance, click here.
 
Fun at the Half
UAlbany Athletics will officially honor the Capital Region's hometown heroes with fireworks and a performance from the Marching Great Danes during halftime of Saturday's game.

Mask Honor System
UAlbany Athletics will be operating under an honor system for outdoor events. Fully vaccinated fans do not have to wear a mask outdoors. Please do your part to protect your fellow Great Danes. 

Head Coach Greg Gattuso on the Home Opener
"We are looking forward to playing in front of our home fans and celebrating our support of our hometown heroes, military, law enforcement, fire and EMT. Rhode Island is a top-25 type team and a CAA rival. We must play better this week to secure a win.
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany began its season by visiting national powerhouse No. 4 NDSU this past Saturday. The Great Danes fell 28-6, but showed early signs of life against the Bison – finishing the first half with more total yards. Turnovers proved to be the difference maker, with NDSU scoring 21 points off of UAlbany mistakes.
• Saturday's game will mark the first time fans return to Casey Stadium for football since the end of the 2019 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Senior running back Karl Mofor will look to get back in his groove after being stifled by the NDSU defense a week ago. The Bison held UAlbany to just 22 yards on the ground on 19 attempts. Mofor, an All-American, ran for 82 yards on 23 attempts last season against the Rams.
• Rookie wideout Roy Alexander couldn't have asked for a better start to his collegiate career. The Fort Myers, Florida, native hauled in four passes for 113 yards. His key play came with time winding down in the first half when he notched a 67-yard reception for a touchdown to bring UAlbany within one score of NDSU.
• Punter Sean Ralls averaged 42.8 yards per punt last weekend, including a 51-yard bomb down the field against the Bison. 

Scouting Rhode Island
Rhode Island was picked to finish sixth in the 2021 CAA Preseason Poll, finishing with 121 points two spots ahead of UAlbany (eighth – 114 points). The Rams opened their season last week with a 45-21 win over Bryant, piling on 508 total yards of offense – the most since a 2019 game against Delaware. Matching the offensive performance was the Rhody defense, holding the Bulldogs to just seven second-half points after emerging from the locker room at halftime.  Senior Justice Antrum ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns, leading an effort for Rhode Island in which the Rams had 235 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
 
Last Time Against Rhode Island
The Rams and Great Danes faced off just a year ago in Albany, with Rhody taking advantage of the matchup with a 17-10 win in overtime. The UAlbany defense held the Rams scoreless the entire second half, but a 25-yard touchdown run at the beginning of overtime was enough for the Rams to walk away with the victory. Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler completed 25-of-42 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Running back Karl Mofor ran for 82 yards on 23 attempts, and wide receiver Jackson Parker led the team in receiving yards with 68 on six receptions. The Great Danes and Rams have met eight times in their histories, with each team earning four wins.
 
Around the CAA
Four CAA teams now sit within the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – James Madison (No. 3), Delaware (No. 6), Villanova (No. 12), and Richmond (No. 25). Also receiving votes in this week's poll were New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Results from around the CAA can be found below.

• NDSU 28, UAlbany 6
• New Hampshire 27, Stony Brook 21
• Delaware 34, Maine 24
• Villanova 47, Lehigh 3
• Wofford 24, Elon 22
• Richmond 38, Howard 14
• Towson 31, Morgan State 0
• Rhode Island 45, Bryant 21
• James Madison 68, Morehead State 10
• Virginia 43, William & Mary 0

 Hear from the Great Danes
"I'm excited to be playing in front of our fans again. We need all the energy, the excitement, we love it. Everything from our fans turns us up. They really help us. They are the 12^th player on the field with us." – Defensive Lineman Ibn Foster
 
Season Schedule
Click here for UAlbany's full 2021 online season schedule.
Sept. 4             at NDSU (L, 6-28)
Sept. 11           RHODE ISLAND
Sept. 18           at Syracuse
Oct. 2              at Delaware
Oct. 9              at William & Mary
Oct. 16            VILLANOVA
Oct. 23            MAINE
Oct. 30            at Towson
Nov. 6              NEW HAMPSHIRE
Nov. 13            MORGAN STATE
Nov. 20            at Stony Brook
 
Let's Get Social
Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on Twitter and Instagram and by using the hashtags #BeGreat and #WinTheDay.