Reading, Pa. (9/7/13) – Albright College used a strong, offensive second half to push past the Kean University football team by a final of 30-14, Saturday evening in the season opener for both.
Junior Eddie DeMarchi led the offense with 68 yards on five catches with a touchdown. Senior quarterback Christian Bailoni completed 29-of-35 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions (1-0) put themselves on the board with two field goals, one in each quarter of the first half, for a slim 6-0 advantage at the break.
On their second possession of the game, Albright used a short field to drive 17 yards and put three on the board with a 34 yard field goal off the foot of Dan Sobolewski.
The Lions looked to add three more with seconds left in the first quarter with a long field goal chance (48 yards), but senior Bob Klecha shot down that attempt by blocking the kick. Klecha (pictured left) led the defense with 10 total tackles on the night.
Midway through the second quarter, Albright marched their way into the redzone, setting up first-and-goal at the nine yard line. The Cougar defense held the Lions to two incomplete passes and a negative rushing attempt, forcing Albright to kick, giving the Lions a six point advantage.
The Cougars best scoring opportunity came late in the second quarter as Kean put together their longest drive of the first half, 51 yards, with two strikes from Bailoni to sophomore Michael Gallant, good for 32 yards. But Kean's 32 yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left, giving the ball back to Albright.
Sophomore Sage Kerrin put Kean right back in the driver's seat as he picked off T.J. Luddy's pass deep in Albright territory three plays into the next drive. The Lions' defense was able to hold off a scoring attempt by containing the rush and pushing the Cougars back with a 14 yard sack.
After a slow scoring first half, the flood gates opened in the second half. Albright used their first drive of the second half to march 61 yards on a balanced offensive attack to take a 13-0 lead. Dwayne Randall capped off the drive with a 15 yard rush for the game's first touchdown.
The Cougars responded on their next drive, starting on their own 35. Bailoni found receiver Prince Stewart for two strikes, good for 19 yards. Junior runningback Kevin O'Connor found space for 16 yards on two carries, but it was the 37 yard pass to DeMarchi that put Kean just outside the endzone. Bailoni finished it off with a two yard keeper and senior Bill Cullen added the extra point to pull Kean within six, 13-7.
Albright answered right back with two long passes to Devron Clark of 27 and 30 yards, respectively, as part of a six play, 73 yard drive, capped off by a two yard rush from Ty Hughes, to jump ahead, 20-7.
Albright caught a break after a botched snap on a Cougar punt attempt, setting up the Lions at the Kean 18 yard line. Albright used a six play, rushing drive to move ahead, 27-7.
Starting on their own 20 yard line and time not on their side, Kean moved to a no-huddle offense, using nine passing plays to record their second touchdown of the evening, as DeMarchi (pictured right) finished the drive with a 10 yard score, pulling Kean closer, 27-14.
After taking advantage of an onside kick try by Kean, the Lions started their drive in Kean territory. The Cougar defense held Albright out of the redzone, but it was again Sobolewski who added three more, this time with a 40 yarder, to put the game out-of reach.
Hughes finished the night with two touchdowns and 90 yards on the ground. Luddy added 125 passing yards on 11 completions (19 attempts).
Kean opens their home slate on Saturday, September 14th when they square off against nationally ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 1 p.m.
