Oct. 8, 2005

Box Score

Albany, N.Y. - Chris Alceus returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lift Stony Brook to a gritty 7-3 road win over UAlbany in a driving rainstorm Saturday afternoon. The victory improved Stony Brook to 2-3 overall, 1-1 in Northeast Conference play while Albany fell to 0-5, 0-2.

Trailing 3-0 in the third quarter, the Seawolves drove to the Albany 7-yard line and lined up for the game-tying field goal. Matt Weeks' 24-yard attempt sailed wide and SB still trailed 3-0. On Albany's next drive, Richie Richards forced an UAlbany fumble, knocking the ball from Marcus Allen's grasp near the 20-yard line. A mad scramble ensued and Alceus emerged from the pile with the ball and dashed 16 yards for the only touchdown of the game.

Hampered by bad field position for most of the second half, the Stony Brook defense came up big time and time again, the last time with under a minute to go. Albany had a 4th-and-5 from the Stony Brook 25 and Mike Mounter sealed the win by breaking up a Brett Hall pass to end the Great Danes threat. The Stony Brook defense limited UAlbany to 102 yards rushing on 42 carries.

In a first half marred by miscues, Stony Brook had the first chance to score when Williams fumbled a Sean McGinty punt at the Albany 20-yard line. The Seawolves were able to advance the ball to the 12 but Weeks' 29-yard attempt was also wide right.

After the missed field goal and with Abany facing a third-and-long deep in its own territory, the Great Danes' Marc Pallozzi executed a beautiful pooch punt that went 57 yards and changed field position. The Great Danes stymied SB on its next drive and got the ball back at the SB 39-yard line. The Great Danes drove to the Seawolves' 8-yard line before the defense stiffened and forced Albany to attempt a field goal. Rob Wood delivered the only points of the first half when he punched a 25-yard field goal through the uprights to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

It was Stony Brook's first win at Albany since November 18, 1995 when the Seawolves posted a 40-21 victory.

The Seawolves return to action next Saturday when they host St. Francis (Pa.). Kick-off is 1 p.m.