Albany(9-3,7-1)
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Two great defenses, not that either team is too shabby in other areas.
Albany has 5 CAA 1st Team Defensive players. Spiders have 3. Basically, between both squads, we define what CAA defense is.
Placekickers Opalke for Danes and Lopez for Spiders likely big factors in game. Danes only allow 67% scoring when opponent is in red zone and only 42% TDs. Gotta get some points every time we get there which will be hard enough.
Confident Lopez will be the man when called upon Saturday (he is 10 of his last 12)!
Go Spiders!
Albany has 5 CAA 1st Team Defensive players. Spiders have 3. Basically, between both squads, we define what CAA defense is.
Placekickers Opalke for Danes and Lopez for Spiders likely big factors in game. Danes only allow 67% scoring when opponent is in red zone and only 42% TDs. Gotta get some points every time we get there which will be hard enough.
Confident Lopez will be the man when called upon Saturday (he is 10 of his last 12)!
Go Spiders!
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Haley says:
Kickoff – Noon ET at Casey Stadium in Albany, New York (ESPN+)
Series – Richmond leads 7-0 (last meeting: Richmond won 23-20 at home on Oct. 5, 2019)
Coaches – Richmond: Russ Huesman (42-32, seventh season; 101-69 overall); UAlbany: Greg Gattuso (48-60, 10th season; 145-92 overall)
3 Players to Watch – Richmond: WR Kyle Wickersham (124 of 167, 1,320 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 401 rush yards, 4 TDs), LB Tristan Wheeler (109 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 fumble recovery), FS Aaron Banks (59 tackles, 3 INTs, 7 pass breakups); UAlbany: QB Reese Poffenbarger (211 of 364, 2,860 yards, 31 TDs, 9 INTs; 134 rush yards, 3 TDs), LB Dylan Kelly (145 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries), DE Anton Junjac (49 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles)
Notable – Richmond has won every meeting since UAlbany joined CAA Football in 2013, but the three most recent from 2017-19 were all three-point margins. The Spiders have won seven straight games, including 49-27 over North Carolina Central in the first round as Wickersham passed for three TDs and RB/PR Savon Smith scored three times. They have defended well in the red zone, allowing TDs on just 20 of their opponents’ 39 opportunities. Wheeler has 475 career tackles, the most of current FCS players. UAlbany is 5-0 at home, with each win decided by 16+ points and the average margin 24.8. The Great Danes rank first in the CAA in points allowed per game (17.2) and nationally with 42 sacks. Redshirt freshman Griffin Woodell has rushed for 100+ yards in three of the last five games. In Poffenbarger’s two seasons, the Great Danes are 3-9 when he’s sacked 3+times and 9-2 when it’s less than that.
Up Next – The winner will face either No. 4 seed Idaho (8-3) or Southern Illinois (8-4) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 8 or 9.
Prediction – UAlbany 24, Richmond 14
Kickoff – Noon ET at Casey Stadium in Albany, New York (ESPN+)
Series – Richmond leads 7-0 (last meeting: Richmond won 23-20 at home on Oct. 5, 2019)
Coaches – Richmond: Russ Huesman (42-32, seventh season; 101-69 overall); UAlbany: Greg Gattuso (48-60, 10th season; 145-92 overall)
3 Players to Watch – Richmond: WR Kyle Wickersham (124 of 167, 1,320 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 401 rush yards, 4 TDs), LB Tristan Wheeler (109 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 fumble recovery), FS Aaron Banks (59 tackles, 3 INTs, 7 pass breakups); UAlbany: QB Reese Poffenbarger (211 of 364, 2,860 yards, 31 TDs, 9 INTs; 134 rush yards, 3 TDs), LB Dylan Kelly (145 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries), DE Anton Junjac (49 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles)
Notable – Richmond has won every meeting since UAlbany joined CAA Football in 2013, but the three most recent from 2017-19 were all three-point margins. The Spiders have won seven straight games, including 49-27 over North Carolina Central in the first round as Wickersham passed for three TDs and RB/PR Savon Smith scored three times. They have defended well in the red zone, allowing TDs on just 20 of their opponents’ 39 opportunities. Wheeler has 475 career tackles, the most of current FCS players. UAlbany is 5-0 at home, with each win decided by 16+ points and the average margin 24.8. The Great Danes rank first in the CAA in points allowed per game (17.2) and nationally with 42 sacks. Redshirt freshman Griffin Woodell has rushed for 100+ yards in three of the last five games. In Poffenbarger’s two seasons, the Great Danes are 3-9 when he’s sacked 3+times and 9-2 when it’s less than that.
Up Next – The winner will face either No. 4 seed Idaho (8-3) or Southern Illinois (8-4) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 8 or 9.
Prediction – UAlbany 24, Richmond 14
Desire to 'leave it better than we found it' fuels Spider Gavin Lamp
In the second round of the FCS playoffs, Richmond visits Albany, which leads the FCS in rushing defense (79.1 ypg).
The key would appear to be if we can pressure the QB on defense and hopefully create some turnovers. We will also need to get the ball out quickly on offense to our playmakers in space and hope for some big plays along the way to slow down their pass rush. Wickersham is an equalizer in the run game and will more than likely get 15 rushing attempts to try to create some blocking advantages against a stout run defense. His mobility could play big in this game to try to limit too many long yardage situations.
Peanut Gang is heading out in morning for drive to NY. Looking forward to an exciting game and thankful this team has taken care of business to get to this point. Also glad we are on the east coast this year for second round and not yet out west like last year or in mid-West. Let's do just enough as UR79Nut says and get this done in round one of CAA co-champions elimination game. Hope to see any fellow Spiders that make the trip in Dutch Parking Lot pre-game and in stands Saturday ready to make some noise. Go Spiders!
"Godspeed" to my favorite Gang of Spiders fans...the Spider Gang's thoughts will be with you...I know you'll take some special mojo with you!
remember all those Playoff road games in which the Spiders have been underdogs...they've been classic UR upset wins...this team has something to prove also...
I think we can do it again!...no doubt your being there will help...
have fun!
Go Spiders!
Don’t bother asking Tom-
flightaware.com
XP8520 (VXP8520) Avelo Airlines Flight Tracking and History 01-Dec-2023 (KRIC-KALB) - FlightAware
Track Avelo Airlines (XP) #8520 flight from Richmond Intl to Albany Intl
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"Richmond is 7-0 against Albany all time" is like saying "Joe Jones has made 27 straight free throws"....and we all know what happened in on number 28
Hero Sports is calling for a 31-21 Albany win. Of course they predicted an NC Central victory over the Spiders 31-27.
herosports.com
FCS Playoffs: Second-Round Score Predictions
The chase for an FCS national championship continues this weekend in the second round of the 24-team bracket.
herosports.com
Sports Illustrated predicts a 37-27 Albany win.
The Great Danes have an elite pass rush, which could be a huge mismatch for a Richmond offensive line that has allowed 37 sacks this season....
Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger (2,860 Passing Yards; 31 TDs) has one of the best wide receiver cores in the country that could give Richmond's secondary problems on Saturday.
The Great Danes have an elite pass rush, which could be a huge mismatch for a Richmond offensive line that has allowed 37 sacks this season....
Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger (2,860 Passing Yards; 31 TDs) has one of the best wide receiver cores in the country that could give Richmond's secondary problems on Saturday.
Feel good about today. Came up short in the rain on the road last year. Lets hope that bitter taste hasn't left their mouth and come out and smack down the scooby doos.
A few early observations.
Albanys Dline is good. Keep it up with the quick screens in the flat.....
Albany is too amped for the game, talking after every plays and being overly chippy....sometimes that can work against you in the form of penalties...
Very physical game, but loved seeing Savon Smith throw a block on the flat on their DT.
Winnable game.
Albanys Dline is good. Keep it up with the quick screens in the flat.....
Albany is too amped for the game, talking after every plays and being overly chippy....sometimes that can work against you in the form of penalties...
Very physical game, but loved seeing Savon Smith throw a block on the flat on their DT.
Winnable game.
Bad 3rd down call/decision. Led to the ball being spotted way to far right in this weather to be kicked like that. Cant come up empty like that. That being said I liked some of the adjustments on that second drive.
Didn't they learn ANYTHING from last week's disjointed first half??? Spiders continue to give up first downs on 3rd/4th and longs.
Open up the play book, quit playing scared. Remember what you did to win 7 straight. Albany is so confident that they run on 3rd and long and of course pick it up. 14-0.
Coleman going to have to lead the comeback. Give him some time. We know he can sling it.
Yes. Wickersham has been getting hit every snap. Hope he’s able to bounce back but we have to keep the QB from taking huge shots on every play.
Great call to punt the ball, Russ! Here's a tip: when the defense cannot make a stop, you might want to hold on to the ball
