Box Score

The Albright College football team overcame a methodical FDU-Florham opponent and eventually ran away with the game, beating the Devils 35-10 on Friday night in Madison, N.J.

Sophomore TJ Luddy was excellent under center, completing 8-of-12 passes for 157 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His main target was senior Scott Pillar, who caught six balls for 142 yards and two scores.

Senior running back Josan Holmes has had a frustrating season as he attempted to deal with some nagging injuries, but the school's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns looked healthy again as he totaled 94 yards on just 13 carries. Fullback Marty Reinhardt added two TDs on the ground as well.

Senior Brooks Mitzkewich has been named to the MAC team of the week twice this month and had another outstanding day punting the ball, averaging 46.1 yards on seven punts, with four kicks inside the 20 and just one touchback.

On the game's opening kickoff, Devron Clark started to the right then cut back left, and was finally brought down at the 49-yard line. The Lions couldn't take advantage of the great field position however, going three-and-out.

On 2nd-and-23, FDU cornerback Pete Amerosi had the ball in his hands with daylight in front of him after Adam Galczynski overthrew Pillar, but he dropped the interception chance. While Albright struggled offensively on its first couple possessions, tackles for loss by Don Gould and Ryan Ott helped stall FDU drives in the first quarter.

Luddy got his first snaps on Albright's third drive, and took just four plays to march the Lions from their own 40 into the red zone for the first time all game. On the next play, he found Josh Bakala for the touchdown, with Pillar providing a key block inside the five-yard line.

The struggling Devils offense suddenly came alive on the ensuing drive, going 69 yards on just six plays to tie the game following Sean Norton's 22-yard run. FDU then tried a surprise onside kick but Caleb Shilko recovered.

In the second quarter, Pillar ran a deep route right down the middle and Luddy hit him in stride. Pillar lost his shoe on the play but managed to reach the end zone for a 54-yard score.

The score was 14-7 at the half with FDU controlling the ball for over 19 minutes, taking their time at the line to milk the clock and keep the game moving. Albright would wear them down in the third quarter however, with three touchdown drives.

On the opening possession of the second half, Florham's Anthony Fruncillo almost beat Ed Leech down the right sideline but the junior got back to break up the pass, saving a certain touchdown. FDU went to Fruncillo again versus Leech on a fade route, but the tall receiver couldn't get his feet inbounds. Keith Bruno broke up a pass in the end zone, forcing FDU to settle for a field goal and a 14-10 deficit.

Holmes' second effort soon helped him break to the outside as a 27-yard gain gave Albright 1st-and-goal. The Lions went with a jumbo set and Reinhardt powered his way into the end zone to give the visitors a two-score lead.

Albright had momentum now and consecutive sacks by Matt Pattison/JT Harding and Ott put the ball right back in their hands. As he's done repeatedly this season, Pillar broke behind the opposing safety and Luddy found him for a 36-yard score and a 28-10 Lions advantage.

In an unusual play, the Devils went for it on fourth down and Darren Barnett ended up chasing FDU-Florham quarterback Ryan Cushman 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage on an eventual grounding call that denied him a deserved sack, but did give his team the ball back.

Pillar nearly had a third touchdown as he tried to fight his way into the end zone and lost the football. Even though it appeared that he may have broken the plane, the play was ruled a fumble and FDU recovered for a touchback.

Ott led the defense with 12 tackles (nine unassisted) with a sack and three tackles for a loss. Gould also had one sack and three takedowns for negative yardage.

Albright breaks a three-game losing skid and improves to 5-3, 3-3 with the win. The Lions will host Widener in their Homecoming Game next Saturday, and their hopes of making an ECAC bowl game could be riding on the result.