Football Suffers Major Loss in Home Opener

By Carter Schum | September 15, 2025

Great Dane Wide Receiver Tavahri Groves (#83) scored a touchdown on Saturday night

Photo Credit: UAlbany Athletics 

The University at Albany football team was defeated 24-17 on Saturday night (9/13) by the New Haven Chargers at Casey Stadium. 

“I did not get us prepared to play this game,” said Interim Head Coach Jared Ambrose on the loss. 

New Haven's first possession saw them drive deep into UAlbany territory, following multiple explosive plays from Charger quarterback AJ Duffy. They would reach the UAlbany 26-yard line where the Chargers would secure a field goal, making the score 3-0 with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter.

UAlbany would turn the ball over on downs on their second possession, leaving the Chargers in a good field position for their second drive, as they would start from their 39 yard line. New Haven would use this to get on the board once again, as Duffy found Matt Chandler to make the score 10-0 with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter.

The struggles for the Great Dane offense would only multiply, as Shields would throw a pick on the ensuing possession, amplifying the struggle for UAlbany to escape becoming New Haven’s first Division 1 victory. 

New Haven scored again after converting a long third down and drawing a costly defensive penalty. Duffy threw a touchdown pass to Evan Chieca, making it 17-0 with 8:10 remaining in the second quarter, as the Great Danes hit a new low in a home opener that was quickly turning into a setback.

New Haven would find the endzone for the third time in the half, as in big part to a pass interference penalty, Duffy would connect with Nikkem Reynolds with 5:01 remaining to make the score 24-0. 

The Great Danes would get on the board with 1:57 remaining in the second quarter, as Griffin Woodell would punch the ball in from the 1 yard line to make the score 24-7. 

UAlbany would nearly get on the board once again in the dying seconds of the second quarter, however a field goal attempt from James Bozek would go wide left. 

Duffy would take a knee to put a merciful end to a half in which the Great Danes were outplayed in all three phases. 

The Chargers outgained the Great Danes 247-208 throughout the first half, while leading the time of possession 16:05-13:55.

UAlbany would get in the endzone once again, as Shields would combine with Tavahri Groves with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter to make it a 24-14 game.

The Great Danes second possession of the game looked promising, until a couple of missed passes and a delay of game penalty would force a punt from UAlbany.  

The remainder of the 3rd quarter saw another drive for UAlbany as they failed to get out of 2nd gear. The coup de grace for the Great Danes came with 12:14 remaining in the 4th, as Shields would be intercepted in New Haven territory as UAlbany failed to capitalize on their chances. 

Another chance to get closer in the game for UAlbany was spoiled when a series of penalties and a sack killed any chance the Great Danes had of securing a win or tie. 

James Bozek would convert a 45 yard field goal, to make the score 24-17 with 5:59 remaining in the 4th quarter. 

UAlbany would have one final chance to find the offense, as with 3:39 remaining in the 4th quarter, the Great Danes would take over on their own 28 yardline.

The Great Danes would try once again to find the endzone, as at the 2 minute timeout, they would reach the New Haven 45 yardline. The Great Danes would get close to the New Haven 30, but UAlbany would turn the ball over on downs, as the Chargers closed out the 24-17 victory, their first as a D-1 program.

UAlbany finished with the advantage in total yards gained, totaling 436 to New Haven's 294. The Great Danes tallied 12 total penalties for a combined 102 yards. 

With the loss, the Great Danes would fall to 0-3, while the Chargers improved to 1-2. 

UAlbany’s Next Home game is scheduled for September 20th, when they take on the Cornell Big Red.