SBU looking forward to next challenge

Albany football coach Bob Ford considered Stony Brook University's next opponent in the FCS playoffs -- No. 1- ranked Sam Houston State -- and wondered if losing Saturday's first-round game to the Seawolves was all that bad, considering the pounding that could be in store.

That perspective was not shared by Stony Brook, especially coach Chuck Priore, who called Albany the trap game and looked forward to Saturday's game in Huntsville, Texas, against the 11-0 Bearkats.

"Everybody was happy we were playing [Albany],'' Priore said, "but I would rather have played Sam Houston State. I don't think [Albany] was the right matchup for us coming out of the game we just played.''

He was referring to the Nov. 19 win over Liberty that gave Stony Brook the Big South title and the FCS playoff berth. Against Albany, he said, "There was almost a letdown emotionally. We practiced well, but I could tell it wasn't the same.''

After falling behind 28-10 in the third quarter -- its first double-digit deficit since the second game of the season -- favored Stony Brook (9-3) escaped with a 31-28 victory over Albany and Ford, 74, who continued to coach despite suffering a torn MCL during the game.

Now the Seawolves will be the decided underdogs in the second round. Playing Sam Houston, Priore said, "defines how far we've come in this program. Are we really a representative for FCS football? They'll be very easy to get excited for, very easy to prepare for. We've taken a lot of long trips, so I don't worry about that. We're probably in a perfect position. I'm glad we're playing the No. 1 team . . . Now we've got the opportunity. It won't define our season, but it will certainly give me an idea on the national scale where we're at. So it's important.''

Sam Houston leads the FCS at 39.45 points per game; SBU is second at 38.92. Sam Houston is first in scoring defense (12.64) and first against the rush (59 yards per game). SBU is 34th in scoring defense (22.42) and ninth against the rush (94.25).

The Seawolves are anxious to meet the top-ranked team. "It's a tremendous opportunity,'' said Dominick Reyes, who clinched the win by intercepting Dan Di Lella's pass from the 3 with 47 seconds left after Jawara Dudley pressured Di Lella and Donald Porter tipped the pass in the end zone. "They're a great team, they're undefeated. We're undefeated in the last nine games. You are never intimidated when you step on the field with anyone. We're underdogs. That means nothing.''

Said Porter, "I think it's a great way to keep going . . . We play these games for these heartbreaking-type endings, for these uplifting-type endings. This is my senior year and I'm still playing football.''