UAlbany vs New Hampshire

With 14:44 left in the fourth quarter and UAlbany holding a 28-14 lead, New Hampshire had driven deep into Great Danes territory. Backup quarterback Tommy McLeish — in for Bentley on the series — threw a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Dillon Dunathan, snuffing out the Wildcats' best chance to cut the lead to one score. The stadium erupted as Dunathan's return gave possession back to Albany.

On New Hampshire's final possession with under two minutes to play, Dunathan and defensive end Shawan Lewis sacked Bentley on back-to-back plays to force a turnover on downs, officially sealing the result.

Joey Koch (UAlbany RB) — Match-winning performance: 7 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD, including a 79-yard burst that set the tone for Albany's second-half approach. Averaged 20.6 yards per carry.

Aidan Semo (UAlbany QB/RB) — Two rushing touchdowns from 1 and 8 yards out, providing the short-yardage punch that complemented Koch and La Mons. Also handled a Wildcat-style QB role.

Dillon Dunathan (UAlbany LB) — The preseason All-CAA linebacker delivered the game's two biggest defensive plays: a fourth-quarter interception deep in Albany territory and back-to-back sacks on UNH's final drive.

Brooks Bentley (UNH QB) — Completed 19 of 27 passes for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions, but was sacked four times and finished with -14 rushing yards as Albany's pass rush disrupted the pocket.

Rahshan La Mons (UAlbany RB) — The Susquehanna transfer contributed 62 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, providing the punishing interior running that wore down the Wildcats' front seven.

Player of the Match: Joey Koch

The stat sheet tells a story of total control at the line of scrimmage. UAlbany's 374 rushing yards (7.1 per carry) against UNH's 62 yards (2.6 per carry) represents a 312-yard ground advantage — the single biggest determinant of the outcome. The Great Danes ran 53 rushing plays to just 18 pass attempts, a run-pass ratio that reflected both the game script and Perkovich's offensive identity built at Susquehanna.

Time of possession was similarly lopsided: 39:08 to 20:52, a direct product of Albany's ability to sustain drives (5/12 on third down, 1/2 on fourth) while the Wildcats converted just 3 of 13 third downs. Albany's 26 first downs (16 rushing) dwarfed UNH's 16 (2 rushing).

Despite the rushing dominance, UAlbany's passing game managed only 57 yards on 7-of-18 with an interception — a clear area for improvement. But with four red-zone trips producing four touchdowns (100%), the Great Danes didn't need an aerial attack on this night.

UAlbany starts 1-0 under new head coach Tom Perkovich, who inherited a program coming off an 11-4 season, CAA co-championship and FCS semifinal appearance in 2025 — despite being picked 11th in the preseason poll. The ground-and-control approach is a clear identity statement from the former Susquehanna coach (84-25 in 10 seasons).

New Hampshire (0-1) drops its season opener under first-year head coach Sean Goldrich, the former Wildcats quarterback ('15). The Wildcats were picked fourth in the CAA preseason poll after an 8-5 campaign and FCS playoff appearance in 2025.

Next up: UAlbany visits Buffalo on Thursday, 3 September (7:00 PM ET). New Hampshire travels to Syracuse on Saturday, 5 September (12:00 PM ET).

Perkovich's debut was a statement in offensive identity: run the ball, control the clock and let the defense finish. UAlbany's rushing attack overwhelmed a Wildcats front that couldn't get off the field. UNH's Bentley showed he can move the ball through the air, but the Wildcats have no answer for a 312-yard rushing deficit. If Koch and La Mons stay healthy, this Great Danes team looks dangerous in CAA play.