Controlling the trenches key for Stony Brook vs. Albany

After suffering an overtime loss in its opener at UTEP, a blowout at Buffalo and a one-point loss in the home opener against Brown, Stony Brook (8-3) ran the table with eight straight victories to capture its first outright Big South football title after sharing the crown the previous two seasons. The prize was a first-ever Football Championship subdivision (FCS) playoff game against Northeast Conference co-champion Albany (8-3) today at 2 p.m. at LaValle Stadium.

A look at the biggest football game in SBU history:

Albany (8-3) at Stony Brook (8-3)

2 p.m., LaValle Stadium

The Stakes

Stony Brook and Albany are among the bottom eight teams in a 20-team field required to play first-round games. The winner advances to the second round against No. 1 overall seed Sam Houston State (11-0) Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

Three keys for Stony Brook

1. Neutralize Albany's defensive line -- A defensive line led by Holtsville's Eddie Delaney has recorded 24 quarterback sacks and held opponents to a respectable 151 yards rushing per game. Stony Brook averaged 287.4 yards rushing per game. Something has to give.

2. Pressure Albany QB Dan DiLella -- The Great Danes' All-NEC passer threw for 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. The Seawolves have to make him feel the heat with either the rush or blitz pressure because their secondary is the most vulnerable part of their defense.

3. Minimize turnovers and penalties -- Stony Brook has been outstanding in the turnover department, forcing 28 turnovers while giving the ball away only 12 times for a plus-16 figure. Albany is only plus-eight in turnovers and has averaged 63.4 yards in penalties per game, trends that could help determine field position.

Secret Weapon

WR Kevin Norrell --- Norrell, a transfer who played at Washington State, has blossomed late in the season to catch 33 passes for a 14.8 average and four touchdowns, including a 26-yarder against Liberty last week. He can be as much of a game-breaker as running backs Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski.

Long Island Connection

The two rosters feature 37 Long Island natives:

Stony Brook Dante Allen, DE, Huntington; Luke Allen, P, Port Jefferson; Ryan Anderson, QB, Ronkonkoma; Nick Buckshaw, TE, Massapequa: JeVahn Cruz, RB, Wheatley Heights; Mario Dattilo, OL, Centereach; Jawara Dudley, LB Roosevelt; Kevin Famulari, WR, Stony Brook; Chris Fenelon, TE, Bellerose; Reginald Francklin, LB, Valley Stream; Craig Geoghan, DB, Lake Ronkonkoma; Kevin Hauter, DL, Moriches; Nick Iorio, LB, Patchogue; Brock Jackolski, RB, Shirley; Davon Lawrence, RB, Central Islip; Jeremy Leggiero, LB, Bohemia; Mike Lisi, OL, Franlin Square; Miguel Maysonet, RB, Riverhead; Coleman Meier, LB, Merrick; Andrew Nelson, DL, Uniondale; Victor Ochi, DE, Valley Stream; Vincent Polo, DB, Wantagh; Cody Precht, OL, Centerport; William Ruland, OL, East Meadow; Dimitry Russ, DL, Deer Park; Shane Scorzelli, FB, Bohemia; David Shukri, TE, Lindenhurst; Victor Spinelli, QB, Northport.

Albany: Karl Allison, TB, Bay

Shore; Eddie Delaney, DE, Holtsville; Randall Exantus, CB, Greenlawn; Joe Fasano, DT, Franklin Square; Zach Gallo, DT, Sayville; Herb Glass, PK, Miller Place; Jon Morgan, ILB, Copiague; Andrew Smith, DT, Wading River; Mike Smith, DE, Wading River.

By the Numbers

5 -- No. of interceptions by SBU DB Donald Porter.

8 Stony Brook's school-record winning streak.

27 -- Special teams tackles by top three Stony Brook RBs JaVahn Cruz (14), Brock Jackolski (8) and Miguel Maysonet (5).

31 -- Number of Stony Brook scoring plays from beyond 20-yard red zone, including 9 runs by Maysonet, 7 by Jackolski, 3 by Cruz, 9 passes by Kyle Essington, 2 fumble returns and 1 KOR by Jackolski.

172.9 -- Pass efficiency rating for Seawolves QB Essington (16 TD passes-2 interceptions)

598.0 -- Pass efficiency rating for Albany RB Drew Smith, who has thrown three passes for three TDs, including a long of 44.

2,714 -- Combined rushing yards for Maysonet (1,485) and Jackolski (1,229).

6,007 -- Career all-purpose yards by Jackolski, including 2,054 this season.

Home field

Stony Brook has the home-field advantage against Albany, and tickets are available. The LaValle Stadium box office opens at 12:30 p.m., 90 minutes before game time. Tickets are $15 for reserved chairback seat, $12 adult general admission, $8 youth, $2 for Albany students and free for Stony Brook students with valid student ID. Parking is free, and tailgating is permissible.

FCS Bracket

First round, Saturday

Albany at Stony Brook

Central Arkansas at Tennessee Tech

Norfolk State at Old Dominion

James Madison at Eastern Kentucky

Second round, Dec. 3

(1) Sam Houston State vs. Albany/Stony Brook

New Hampshire at Montana State

Wofford at (5) Northern Iowa

(4) Montana vs. Central Arkansas/Tennessee Tech

(2) Georgia Southern vs. Norfolk State/Old Dominion

Maine at Appalachian State

Lehigh at Towson

(2) North Dakota State vs. James Madison/Eastern Kentucky

Quarterfinals, Dec. 9-10

TBD

Semifinals, Dec. 16-17

TBD

Championship game, Jan. 7

TBD at Frisco, Texas