FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 4, 2000

MONMOUTH LOSES DECISION AT ALBANY

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth's road troubles continued as the Hawks dropped to 0-4 on the road with a 37-10 loss to Albany at University Field in Northeast Conference football action on Saturday.

After halftime, Albany took control of what had been a closely contested game. The Great Danes tallied three touchdowns and a safety in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter to stretch a 14-0 lead to 37-10.

Albany's Ryan MacLean returned the opening kickoff of the second half 62 yards to the Monmouth 25-yard line. Three plays later, Albany fullback Ben Kelcey plunged in from one yard out to give the Great Danes a 21-10 lead.

"You can't play like we played in the third quarter and expect to win ball games," Monmouth offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky said. "They outplayed is the third quarter and that was the big difference in the game."

Albany's defense kept the momentum going as Jelani Dandles intercepted a Bill Rankin pass on the third play of Monmouth's next drive and returned it 12 yards to the Monmouth 44-yard line.

The Hawks went on a seven-play, 44-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Dustin Wilson to pushed the margin to 28-10. On the next Hawks' drive, Brian Eidens blocked a Darrell Nick punt through the back of the end zone to give Albany the safety and a 30-10 lead. The Great Danes capped off their 23-point second-half scoring outburst as the went on a 6-play, 55-yard drive culminating in a Brian Manigault 14-yard touchdown run to give Albany a 37-10 edge.

Monmouth took the game's first lead in the first quarter as Bill Rankin hit Kasiem Gordon for a 37-yard touchdown pass with 12:09 left in the first quarter to post a 7-0 advantage. Albany responded quickly with a touchdown drive of its own as Ryan Roeder hit Chris Phillis for a 4-yard touchdown strike with 7:14 remaining in the opening quarter. Monmouth's Ryan Peterson hit a career-long 40-yard field goal with 2:37 left in the first quarter to put the Hawks back in the lead 10-7. Albany gained the momentum heading into the intermission as Manigault rushed for an 8-yard touchdown to give Albany a 14-10 lead after two quarters.

Manigault ended the game with 114 yards on 19 carriers for the Great Danes. His back-up Dustin Wilson rushed for 75 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries. Matt Merklinger led the Monmouth offense with 98 yards on 15 rushes.

Monmouth continues its season Friday as the Hawks travel to Jamaica, N.Y., for a 7:30 p.m. contest vs. St. John's University.