# 2023 Albany Great Danes football team

The 2023 Albany Great Danes football team represented University at Albany, SUNY as a member of Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA), during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Greg Gattuso, the Great Danes played home games at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, New York.
The CAA, formerly known as the Colonial Athletic Association from 2007 through 2022, changed its name in July 2023 to accommodate future membership expansion outside of states that were among the Thirteen Colonies.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 26 | 7:00 p.m. | Fordham* | | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloSports | W 34–13 | 8,500 |
| September 2 | 6:00 p.m. | at Marshall* | | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | ESPN+ | L 17–21 | 25,101 |
| September 9 | 12:00 a.m. | at Hawaii* | | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexManoa, HI | SPEC PPV | L 20–31 | 9,485 |
| September 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at Morgan State* | | Hughes StadiumBaltimore, MD | ESPN+ | W 23–17 $^{OT}$ | 1,175 |
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 16 Villanova | | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloSports | W 31–10 | 7,071 |
| October 7 | 4:00 p.m. | at Towson | | Johnny Unitas StadiumTowson, MD | FloSports | W 24–17 | 4,789 |
| October 14 | 1:00 p.m. | at New Hampshire | No. 24 | Wildcat StadiumDurham, NH | FloSports | L 31–38 | 8,346 |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Rhode Island | | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloSports | W 35–10 | 5,196 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at Maine | | Alfond Stadium,Orono, ME | FloSports | W 37–21 | 3,932 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 24 William & Mary | No. 23 | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloSports | W 24–8 | 3,518 |
| November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Stony Brook | No. 18 | Kenneth P. LaValle StadiumStony Brook, NY (rivalry) | FloSports | W 38–20 | 5,671 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Monmouth | No. 12 | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloSports | W 41–0 | 3,505 |
| December 2 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 22 Richmond* | No. 9 | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY (FCS Second Round) | ESPN+ | W 41–13 | 2,652 |
| December 9 | 10:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Idaho* | No. 9 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (FCS Quarterfinal) | ESPN+ | W 30–22 | 9,372 |
| December 15 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 1 South Dakota State* | No. 9 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (FCS Semifinal) | ESPN2 | L 0–59 | 12,265 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Fordham

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fordham | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Albany | 7 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 34 |
at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Michael Johnson, Jr.
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Fordham | Passing |
| Fordham | Rushing |
| Fordham | Receiving |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |

### At Marshall

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Albany | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| (FBS) Marshall | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
at Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia
* Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C)
* Game attendance: 25,101
* Referee: Javarro Edwards
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Martin (play-by-play), Carl Lee (analyst)
| Statistics | ALB | MRSH |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 74–300 | 61–413 |
| Rushes–yards | 36–106 | 26–145 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 268 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 22–38–0 | 28–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 35:09 | 24:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Albany | Passing | Reese Poffenbarger | 22/38, 194 yards, 1 TD |
| Albany | Rushing | Nate Larkins | 13 carries, 39 yards |
| Albany | Receiving | Jackson Parker | 5 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD |
| Marshall | Passing | Cam Fancher | 28/35, 268 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 18 carries, 137 yards, 2 TD |
| Marshall | Receiving | Chuck Montgomery | 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |

### At Hawaii

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Albany | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| (FBS) Hawaii | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex • Manoa, Hawaii
* Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 a.m. EST
* Game attendance: 9,485
* TV announcers (SPEC PPV): Kanoa Leahey, Rich Miano
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |
| Hawaii | Passing |
| Hawaii | Rushing |
| Hawaii | Receiving |

### At Morgan State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Albany | | | 0 |
| Morgan State | | | 0 |
at Hughes Stadium • Baltimore, Maryland
* Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Phil Schoener, Emory Hunt
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |
| Morgan State | Passing |
| Morgan State | Rushing |
| Morgan State | Receiving |

### No. 16 Villanova

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| No. 16 Villanova | | | 0 |
| Albany | | | 0 |
at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Michael Johnson, Jr.
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |

### At Towson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Albany | | | 0 |
| Towson | | | 0 |
at Johnny Unitas Stadium • Towson, Maryland
* Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Spiro Morekas, Gordy Combs
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |
| Towson | Passing |
| Towson | Rushing |
| Towson | Receiving |

### At New Hampshire

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Albany | | | 0 |
| New Hampshire | | | 0 |
at Wildcat Stadium • Durham, New Hampshire
* Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Justin McIsaac, Brian Espanet, Evan Gray
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |
| New Hampshire | Passing |
| New Hampshire | Rushing |
| New Hampshire | Receiving |

### Rhode Island

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Rhode Island | | | 0 |
| Albany | | | 0 |
at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 5,196
* TV announcers (FloSports): Michael Johnson, Jr.
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Rhode Island | Passing |
| Rhode Island | Rushing |
| Rhode Island | Receiving |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |

### At Maine

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Albany | 10 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 37 |
| Maine | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Alfond Stadium • Orono, Maine
* Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NE 10mph
* Game attendance: 3,932
* Referee: Anthony Florio
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Jim Churchill, Bryan Stackpole
| Statistics | ALB | ME |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 62–473 | 67–312 |
| Rushes–yards | 32–149 | 24–92 |
| Passing yards | 324 | 220 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 18–30–0 | 29–43–2 |
| Time of possession | 29:07 | 30:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Albany | Passing | Reese Poffenbarger | 18/30, 324 yards, 2 TD |
| Albany | Rushing | Faysal Aden | 22 rushes, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Albany | Receiving | MarQeese Dietz | 7 receptions, 150 yards |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 29/43, 220 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Brian Santana-Fis | 3 rushes, 35 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Michael Monios | 10 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

### No. 24 William & Mary

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 William & Mary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| No. 23 Albany | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 3,518
* TV announcers (FloSports): Michael Johnson, Jr.
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| William & Mary | Passing |
| William & Mary | Rushing |
| William & Mary | Receiving |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |

### At Stony Brook

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Albany | | | 0 |
| Stony Brook | | | 0 |
at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, New York
* Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Jonny Wincott, Sam Kornhauser, Matt Levine
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |
| Stony Brook | Passing |
| Stony Brook | Rushing |
| Stony Brook | Receiving |

### Monmouth

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Monmouth | | | 0 |
| Albany | | | 0 |
at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (FloFootball): Michael Johnson, Jr.
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Monmouth | Passing |
| Monmouth | Rushing |
| Monmouth | Receiving |
| Albany | Passing |
| Albany | Rushing |
| Albany | Receiving |

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position |
| Greg Gattuso | Head coach |
| Jared Ambrose | Associate head coach / offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach |
| Bill Nesselt | Defensive coordinator / linebackers coach |
| Joe Bernard | Special teams coordinator / defensive line coach |
| Will Fiacchi | Wide receivers coach / passing game coordinator / recruiting coordinator |
| Jordan Orlovsky | Running backs coach / chief of staff |
| Darrin Walls | Co-defensive coordinator / cornerbacks coach |
| Jacob Alsadek | Offensive line coach |
| Chris Calabrese | Outside linebackers coach / defensive recruiting coordinator |
| Brendan Smith | Tight ends coach |
| Jon Simmons | Director of football operations / video coordinator |
| Matt Campion | Coaching assistant |
| Tim Brady | Coaching assistant |

### Roster
## Statistics
### Team

* Scoring
* Points per Game
* Points per Turnovers
* First Downs
* Rushing
* Passing
* Penalty
* Rushing yards
* Avg per play
* Avg per game
* Rushing touchdowns
* Passing yards
* Att-Comp-Int
* Avg per pass
* Avg per catch
* Avg per game
* Passing touchdowns
* Total Offense
* Plays
* Avg per play
* Avg per game
* Fumbles-Lost
* Penalties-Yards
* Avg per game
| | Albany | Opp |
| Punt-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Avg per punt net | | |
| Punt Return-Yards | | |
| Avg per punt return | | |
| Kickoffs-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Avg per kick net | | |
| Kickoff Return-Yards | | |
| Avg per kickoff return | | |
| Interceptions-Yards | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Time of possession / game | | |
| 3rd Down Conversions (Pct%) | (0%) | (0%) |
| 4th Down Conversions (Pct%) | (0%) | (0%) |
| Touchdowns Scored | | |
| Field Goals-Attempts | | |
| PAT-Attempts | | |
| 2 point conversion-attempts | | |
| Sack by Yards | | |
| Misc Yards | | |
| Safeties | | |
| Onside kicks | | |
| Red zone scores | (0%) | (0%) |
| Red zone touchdowns | (0%) | (0%) |
| Attendance | | |
| Date/Avg per date | | |
| Neutral Site | | |

### Individual leaders

Passing statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RAT | CMP-ATT-INT | YDS | AVG/G | CMP% | TD | LONG |
| | | QB | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0 yrds | | 0.0% | 0 TDs | 0 |
| | TOTALS | | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0 TDs | 0 |
Rushing statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | ATT | GAIN | AVG | TD | LONG | AVG/G |
| | | RB | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
Receiving statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | CTH | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | AVG/G |
| | | WR | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TDs | 0 | 0.0 |
| | TOTALS | | 67 | 730 yrds | 10.9 | 10 TDs | 38 | 243.3 |

#### Defense

Defense statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | SOLO | AST | TOT | TFL-YDS | SACK-YDS | INT-YDS-TD | BU | QBH | RCV-YDS | FF | BLK | SAF |
| | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | TOTAL | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds | 0-0 yrds- 0 TDs | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - |
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown

#### Special teams

Kicking/off statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | XPM-XPA (XP%) | FGM-FGA (FG%) | 1–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50+ | PTS | LNG | KICKS | YDS | AVG | TB | OB |
| | | PK | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | 0 pts | 0 | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | - |
| | TOTALS | | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | - |
Punting statistics :
| NAME | POS | PUNTS | YDS | AVG | LONG | TB | FC | I–20 | 50+ | BLK |
| | P | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Team | -- | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kick return statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RTNS | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TD's | 0 |
Punt return statistics :
| # | NAME | POS | RTNS | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
| | TOTALS | | 0 | 0 yrds | 0.0 | 0 TD's | 0 |