UAlbany Falls At South Dakota State In FCS Playoff Semifinals
Rob Washburn
Box Score
BROOKINGS, S.D. (December 15, 2023) – An outstanding season for the UAlbany football team came to a difficult end on Friday night as the Great Danes fell 59-0 to top-seeded and defending national champion South Dakota State in the semifinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
UAlbany (11-4), which was making its first appearance ever in the semifinals, had its seven-game winning streak snapped while the Jackrabbits (14-0) extended their nation’s-best winning streak to 28 games and advanced to the FCS National Championship game in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 7.
Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger passed for 232 yards and added 29 yards on the ground to lead the Great Danes’ offense. Julian Hicks made seven receptions for 76 yards. Denzel Patrick recorded a team-best 12 tackles, while Isaac Duffy and Bill Hackett added eight stops apiece.
SDSU excelled in all three phases of the game in building a 35-0 halftime lead. The Jackrabbits piled up 338 yards of offense, forced three turnovers and scored on a punt return. SDSU added a fumble return for a TD on the opening drive of the second half and tacked on 17 points in the fourth quarter.