Stony Brook, looking to win third in a row, faces Albany
Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore follows the action on the field during an NCAA game on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at Stony Brook University. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
It hasn't been pretty, but a young Stony Brook football team hampered by key injuries has rebounded from five consecutive midseason losses to scratch out two straight wins. The Seawolves (4-5, 2-5 CAA) will try to make it three straight wins for a .500 season against SUNY rival Albany (3-7, 2-5) on Saturday afternoon at LaValle Stadium.
In wins over Howard and Rhode Island the past two weeks, coach Chuck Priore's team relied on a dominant defense that totaled 18 sacks. The Seawolves managed to squeeze out just enough offense, led by the rushing of third-string running back Donald Liotine and some timely pass completions by senior quarterback Conor Bednarski.
It's the basic formula Priore diagramed at the start of the season before top running backs Stacey Bedell and Isaiah White were lost to injuries.
"Obviously, we've had some injuries, but the kids have responded well," Priore said. "In any football game, if you can stop the run, run the football efficiently and control the clock, you have a chance."
For the second straight game, the Seawolves will have to get by without injured senior center Jerry Hubshman, and the defensive line has lost Dante Allen. But defensive ends Victor Ochi and Ousmane Camara and defensive tackle Aaron Thompson figure to stop an Albany running attack averaging 136.2 yards per game and pressure quarterback D.J. Crook.
The Great Danes have lost five of their past six games, but they recently upset Delaware and suffered close losses to Richmond and New Hampshire.
The Empire Clash rivalry usually brings out the emotion from both teams.
"Absolutely," Priore said. "It's a SUNY school. It's a league game and an in-state game, so it's important."
Although the season hasn't been what Priore wanted, the chance to finish with three straight victories and a .500 overall record would be meaningful heading to the offseason.
"I'll be very candid," Priore said. "Ninety-eight percent of the kids have been fine. You're always going to have that 1 or 2 percent that aren't playing as much as they want or can't handle the scenarios, but this has been a good team from that perspective.
"Every game we've been in. It's not like we've lost every game by a lot of points. There hasn't been a game we haven't been in the fourth quarter with a chance to win. To me, that says a lot of character."
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
