Football Caps Off Homecoming Weekend With Win Over Delaware State
By Carter Schum | October 5, 2026
The University at Albany Football team defeated the Delaware State Hornets by a score of 28-3 on Saturday, in front of a sellout crowd of 8,500 fans.
“Really proud of you guys for believing in what we are doing, and just going to work,” said Head Coach Tom Perkovich of his team's effort at game over the weekend.
The Great Danes started with the ball, and started their first possession at their own 25-yard line after a touchback. Aiden Semo ran for a first down, but a sack immediately following the play eventually forced a UAlbany punt.
The Hornets first drive ended abruptly after Shawan Lewis intercepted quarterback Ui Ale after he read a screen pass to set up the Great Danes at the Delaware State 21-yard line.
UAlbany cashed in five plays later, as Aiden Semo connected with Rahshan La Mons for a six-yard passing touchdown to give the Great Danes a 7-0 lead with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Delaware State cut the deficit on the next drive, when Patrick Fisher-Butler drilled a 45-yard field goal that brought the score to 7-3 with 1:22 left to play in the first quarter.
The opening quarter ended with Colon getting sacked by a swarm of Hornets with the score still at 7-3.
Following a drive that featured multiple penalties on both teams, Delaware state punted the ball back to UAlbany about four minutes into the second quarter.
The Great Danes got inside the Hornets 5-yard line on the next drive, however they could not convert a 4th and one after Aiden Semo was marked about a foot short.
An incompletion and a sack would force the Hornets to punt from inside their own endzone. This was returned to the Delaware State 16-yard line by La Mons, to set up UAlbany with solid field position.
On second and goal, La Mons scored his second touchdown of the game to extend the Great Dane lead to 14-3, with 2:03 on the clock in the second quarter.
The Hornets appeared to have gotten in field goal range following a run by Ale, however Dillon Dunathan sacked Ale on the last play of the second quarter as the Great Danes led 14-3 at the half.
Delaware State started the second half with the ball, and got into UAlbany territory in large part due to a pair of Great Dane penalties. Despite this, Victor Hold sacked Ale on a big third down play to force another punt.
The first offensive drive for UAlbany in the third quarter ended with a three and out after a pair of drops and a five yard run from La Mons.
The next Delaware State series featured Great Dane pressure in the backfield, as backup quarterback Marqui Adams was sacked twice, to set up a Hornets punt sending the ball back to UAlbany.
The Great Danes found the endzone just before the end of the third quarter, after Joey Koch capped off a long drive with UAlbany's third rushing touchdown of the game, making the score 21-3.
La Mons appeared to have returned a Hornet punt for a long touchdown, however a flag was thrown for an illegal block in the back, negating the score and causing the Great Danes to start at their own 25-yard line. The drive ended with Semo connecting with BJ Norman for a 15-yard touchdown to make it a 28-3 game with 11:16 left to play.
Delaware State would get down to the UAlbany 7-yard line on the ensuing drive, however, the Great Dane defense would stand strong, and Jeremiah Pruitt would come up with a sack on and a goal to force a turnover on downs.
No further scoring would happen from either team in the rest of the game, and the Great Danes emerged victorious, as the finishing score was 28-3.
With the win, UAlbany and Delaware State both moved to 3-3 overall.
The Great Danes are off next week before taking on the Stony Book Seawolves in the annual Battle for the Golden Apple on Oct. 17. They return home on Oct. 31 when they play the Campbell Fighting Camels.
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