WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- The University at Albany's (7-3, 6-1 NEC) football team used four scoring plays of 40+ yards to top Monmouth (5-5, 4-3 NEC), 41-24 on Saturday at Kessler Field.

Albany demonstrated the ability to make some big plays," said MU Coach Kevin Callahan.  "That created a gap where we had to get out of what we would typically do. We had to take some different chances, go for it on fourth down and that created short fields for them. Ultimately the story of the game is, our defense giving up big plays. You have to give them some credit, they are a good football team in all areas."

Monmouth's offense had 385 yards of offense, including Craig Peterson's (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) 296 yards passing but yielded a season-high 539 yards on defense.  MU was an efficient 10-of-18 on third down and amassed 24 first downs in the contest.  Albany scored on plays of 55, 62, 53 and 44 yards in the game.

The Hawk defense stopped Albany on a fourth and goal from the one right before halftime as MU went into the break trailing 14-10.  The Great Danes received the second half kickoff and converted a third down before throwing an interception on first down.  UA quarterback Dan Di Lella had his pass tipped in the secondary where sophomore Jameson Zacharias (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) made his first career interception, returning it 20 yards to the UA39.

The Hawks took the lead seven plays later on a five yard Julian Hayes (Middletown, Conn./Xavier/The Hun School) touchdown. Peterson was three of three on the drive while Hayes ran for 23 yards.  That score put MU up 17-14 with 9:27 to play in the third quarter.

Albany answered that drive with a 12 play, 57 yard drive that stalled on the MU six.  The Great Danes were forced to settle for a 23 yard field goal after Reggie Hildebrandt Jr. (Seat Pleasant, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt/Morgan State) broke up a third down pass in the endzone.  Herb Glass' field goal tied the game up at 17-17 with 4:16 showin on the clock.

After a MU drive stalled, Albany needed just two plays to retake the lead, scoring on a 62 yard Drew Smith touchdown run.  The teams traded punts before Di Lella beat a heavy MU blitz on a 53-yard third down screen to Dillon Romain that put UA up 31-17 with 8:31 remaining in the game.

Albany put the game out of reach on their next drive, when Smith found J Mason on a fake punt for a 44 yard touchdown.  With 3:09 to play Glass added a 39 yard field goal to finish the Great Dane scoring.

The Hawks answered that by completing a nine-play, 91-yard drive, that culminated in a 31 yard Tristan Roberts (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia/Lackawanna CC) touchdown catch to end the scoring at 41-24.

Monmouth got on the board first, scoring on their opening drive.  Eric Spillane (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) converted a 37 yard field goal after the Hawks put together a 12-play, 63 yard drive.  Albany took its first lead of the game on a one-yard Smith run, which was set up by a 32 yard Di Lella to Cole King pass.

The Hawks took a 10-7 lead 7:08 into the second quarter when Peterson hit tight end Mike McLafferty (Morgan, N.J./War Memorial) on a six yard touchdown strike.  The lead was again short lived as Albany scored three plays later on a 55 yard touchdown pass, putting the Great Danes up 14-10. After a Monmouth punt, Albany drove down to the MU three where they had a first and goal.

Safety Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) dropped Smith for a two yard loss on first down which was followed by an incomplete pass.  After a three-yard shovel pass set up a fourth and goal from the one, Albany coach Bob Ford elected to go for it.  Di Lella snuck up the middle but was stopped short, turning the ball over on downs with just 1:30 to play before halftime.

Peterson finished with a career-high 32 completions on 49 total passes with a pair of touchdowns and 296 yards. Mitchell Pollard (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) led the Hawks with 79 yards on eight catches, while Neal Sterling (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan) had 62 yards on seven receptions. Roberts finished with 70 yards on five grabs and Hayes rushed 18 times for 78 yards and the one touchdown.

Dan Sullivan (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) led the Hawks with seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. 

Smith had 131 yards on 14 carries, 62 of which came on the long TD run. Cole King led UA in reception yardage with 84 on four catches.  Di Lella was 16-of-26 with two touchdowns and the one interception and 306 yards.

Monmouth dropped its seventh consecutive home game, dating back to the end of the 2010 season.  The Hawks finished 2011 a perfect 5-0 on the road but have now lost five straight to the Great Danes.

Monmouth wraps up the 2011 season at home next week when the Wagner Seahawks come to Kessler.  Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.