UAlbany football rallies, but comes up short in 38-31 CAA loss to Monmouth

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

UAlbany football head coach Greg Gattuso in August.

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WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — It’s become a familiar tune for the UAlbany football program this season.

Saturday against Monmouth, the Great Danes once again fell into an early double-digit hole, and while the offense rallied in the second half, the comeback ended up short as UAlbany dropped a 38-31 Colonial Athletic Association contest.

It was the 12th loss in the last 13 CAA games for UAlbany (0-2 CAA, 1-4 overall), and the program’s 10th consecutive loss in a game decided by seven or fewer points.

UAlbany got on board first on a 2-yard Todd Sibley Jr. touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but Monmouth responded by running up 24 straight points thanks largely to three long touchdown runs — two by Jaden Shirden, one by Owen Wright.

A major swing happened in the second quarter when, down 14-7, UAlbany’s offense was stopped at the goal line — including a third down play where it appeared quarterback Reese Poffenbarger may have reached the ball over the pylon for a touchdown — and Monmouth immediately answered with a 99-yard touchdown run by Owen Wright.

UAlbany trailed 24-10 at halftime and got within a touchdown on three different occasions in the second half. Ultimately, the Great Danes had a chance to tie the game with a last-minute drive, but a Poffenbarger pass was incomplete as time expired as Monmouth (2-1, 4-2) held on.

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UAlbany’s offense piled up 501 yards in the loss, as Sibley ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, while Poffenbarger threw for 263 yards and a touchdown while also adding 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 rushing attempts.

Monmouth’s rushing offense raced to 273 yards on 31 attempts, with Shirden putting up 160 yards and Wright running for 114 on just six carries.

Next Saturday, UAlbany returns home to take on CAA newcomer Hampton at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium.