Football Prevails in Roller Coaster Game Against Campbell
By Carter Schum | November 3, 2026
On Saturday, Oct. 30, the University at Albany men’s football team beat the Campbell Fighting Camels by a score of 45-35.
“Really proud of our team, it's a big win, but it’s just one step,” said the team’s head coach Tom Perkovich following the win.
On the game's first drive, the Fighting Camels drove inside the UAlbany 25-yard line before Dillon Dunathan ran a fumble forced by Jeremiah Pruitt back 77 yards. This put the Great Danes up 7-0, with just about 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Fighting Camels were not deterred, however, as they found the endzone on their next drive following several explosive passing plays and a one yard touchdown run from JJ Cowan to level the score to 7-7.
UAlbany’s first series on offense ended after just three plays following a holding on third down by Emmitt Harris, forcing a Great Dane punt.
The Great Dane defense came up big again on the first play of the ensuing drive, as Shawan Lewis forced a fumble that was recovered by Jamari Young just inside Cambell territory.
UAlbany found the endzone for the second time on the fourth play of their next drive, as Kai Colon evaded several defenders on a 14-yard touchdown run to put the Great Danes back in front 14-7 at the three-minute mark of the first quarter.
After forcing a Campbell punt, the Great Danes took over with under a minute left in the first quarter. On the second play of the drive, Rahshan LaMons bounced off of several Campbell defenders at the line and won a footrace to the endzone for a highlight reel, 63-yard touchdown to put UAlbany up 21-7 at the end of the first.
The Camels punched right back, as Kamden Sixkiller found Aaryn Tate for a 40-yard passing touchdown to cut the Great Dane lead to 21-14, with 12:13 to play in the second quarter.
The back and forth continued in the next drive, as after a fourth down conversion, Colon threw a perfect pass to Daniel Growney in the corner of the endzone for a 24 yard touchdown, bringing the lead back to 28-14.
The Great Danes forced a three-and-out on the next drive, and after starting on their own 10-yard line, got on the scoreboard once again via a 44-yard field goal from Brayden Heitmeyer. With around a minute left of the second quarter, the score was 31-14.
Campbell found their rhythm back on offense, as helped by a pair of 15-yard UAlbany penalties and spectacular catches by Chinua Ezeigbo. JJ Cowan ran the ball in from inside the one-yard line to make it a 31-21 game, with 22 seconds left in the first half.
A Kai Colon kneel-down brought the game to halftime with UAlbany up leading by 10 points.
Starting with the ball to begin the second half, UAlbany drove down to the Campbell nine-yard line, but Colon threw an interception right into the hands of Fighting Camels defender AJ Benton with 7:16 left in the third quarter.
Three plays later, Sixkiller was intercepted by Great Dane linebacker Jamari Young, who took it to the house for UAlbany’s second defensive touchdown of the game, making the score 38-21.
Once again, Campbell responded right back as Ezeigbo found the back of the endzone off of a 27-yard, fourth-down Sixkiller pass to make it a 38-28 game with just over 90 seconds left in the quarter.
As the Great Danes were driving to begin the fourth quarter, Colon was stripped of the ball and the Fighting Camels took over just inside UAlbany territory. On the next play from scrimmage, JJ Cowan scored a 44-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 38-35 with 13:13 left in the game.
LaMons suffered an apparent lower body injury on an attempted fourth down conversion that was blown up in the backfield. His knee looked to have buckled after being wrapped up by several defenders, and he was unable to put any weight on it leaving the field. He did not return to the game.
The Fighting Camels were unable to use this field position as after a third-down stop, they were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and forced to punt.
The Fighting Camels got the ball back with just over two minutes left to play on their own eight yardline. Sixkiller attempted to pitch the ball, however a swarm of Great Danes read the play and UAlbany took over on downs.
On the first play following the stop, BJ Norman took an end around 16 yards for a touchdown, putting UAlbany up 45-35, with 1:40 left in the game.
Campbell got the ball back one more time, however they were unable to level the score and two kneel-downs from Colon sealed the upset win.
UAlbany improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the CAA, while Campbell fell to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in CAA play.
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