Reading, Pa. (September 23)- With tropical storm Ophelia causing adverse playing conditions for the FDU-Florham football team (2-2, 1-2 MAC), the Devils overcame the rough weather to defeat Albright (0-4, 0-3 MAC), 14-6 on Saturday afternoon.

The Devils defense stepped up in a big way today, allowing no touchdowns once again to the Lions offense for the second straight season and holding them to only one third down conversion on 14 attempts. Christian Puntolillo (Wayne, NJ) tied a career-high in total tackles with nine on the day including seven solo to go along with two pass breakups and a blocked field goal. Darius Ferreras (New Milford, NJ) posted four total tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss while Otis Harold (Vineland, NJ) collected his first career interception in the matchup.

It was once again a spectacular performance from Kwanir Edwards (Trenton, NJ) who ran for 176 yards (one yard shy of tying his career-high mark) on the ground including a 47-yard touchdown to seal the win. Ryon Thomas (Mattapoiset, Mass.) did what he could in the rain, throwing for 72 yards on 10 completions and a touchdown. Michael DeSantis (South River, NJ) brought in the team-high four catches for 33 yards on the day in the receiving game.

FDU started with the football in the contest, but a costly fumble gave Albright the football on the Devils 32-yard line for their first possession. The Lions were not able to move the ball very far, gaining only nine yards on that drive but were able to score the first points on the day with a 36-yard field goal to give them a 3-0 advantage.

The Devils responded well after the turnover, going the distance on 10-play, 75-yard drive. The drive started with a 17-yard reception to DeSantis. Faced with a fourth down on the Albright 49-yard line, Edwards found the crease and picked up a first down and then some on a 12-yard carry. On third and five from the Lions 32-yard line, Thomas hit DeSantis again for another big gain of 11 and after that a 17-yard run by Aidan Clowry (Pawling, NY) set the Devils up first and goal where Thomas immediately found Anthony Bilotta (Cedar Grove, NJ) for the touchdown to put FDU up, 7-3.

No team was able to find much of anything the rest of the first quarter. The second quarter started with Albright putting together a great drive that started from their own 34 and ended on the FDU 14. The Lions attempted to cut the lead to just one on another field goal attempt, but it was blocked by Puntolillo. The game continued to be a stand still going into the second half.

Albright's first drive of the second half ended with an interception by Harold, but Fairleigh Dickinson was not able to capitalize off the pick as they turned the ball over on downs at the Albright 22. The Lions were able to take the ball on the ensuing drive, 56 yards on six plays and kicked another field goal from 38 yards out to cut the lead to 7-6 Devils.

Both teams had a tough time putting together another scoring drive until the fourth quarter. With 7:29 left to go in the game, the Devils started with the ball at midfield after an Albright punt. After a short gain by Clowry, Edwards went the distance on a 47-yard touchdown run to give FDU some breathing room with a 14-6 lead.

The Lions put together a promising drive to try and tie the game that went from the Lions 38 to the Devils 26-yard line. Faced with a fourth and nine, Albright tried to pick up the first down but could not convert and gave FDU the ball back with a chance to run the clock out. The Lions were able to stop the clock twice and keep the offense from a first down until third down, Edwards broke off a 28-yard run to seal the first conference win for the Devils this season.

FDU-Florham has its bye week next weekend before they get ready to square off with King's College on Saturday, October 7^th in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

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