DANBURY, Conn. – Senior safety Armon Jefferson grabbed a game-sealing interception with 16 seconds left in regulation, as the Albright Lions football team held on to defeat Western Connecticut State 33-28 on Saturday evening in non-conference action.
 
With the win, the Lions improved to 1-1 overall and 3-0 all-time against Western Connecticut State. Meanwhile, the Colonials of the Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) fall to 1-1.
 
Senior quarterback Todd Shelley set career-highs by completing 18 of 29 passes for 246 yards and throwing three touchdown passes to just one interception. Classmate Malik Bootman did a little of everything for the Lions offense as he totaled 144 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 37 yards on nine carries with one touchdown. Sophomore running back Isaiah Shockley impressed once again as he rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries. Senior wide receiver Kevin Zehner caught five passes for 63 yards, while junior wide receiver Lucas Roselli made two catches for 41 yards and one touchdown.
 
It seemed the Lions would be going three-and-out to open the contest, but quickly got the ball back after the Colonials muffed the punt. Albright set up shop at the Colonials 41-yard line and drove down to the six-yard line before settling for a 25-yard field goal from first-year kicker Jack Heuer. The Colonials responded by driving down the field in six plays, and scored on a 25-yard pass to take a 7-3 lead at the 6:44-mark of the first quarter. Each team traded a three-and-out on their respective ensuing drives, and the Lions cut the deficit down to 7-6 following a 36-yard field goal from Heuer with 49 seconds left in the first quarter. The key play in the drive came when Shockley broke loose for 29 yards on the second play to set the Lions up deep in Colonials territory.
 
The Colonials looked to respond on their next drive as they once again drove into Albright territory. They made it as far as the Lions eight-yard line, but missed a 25-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright. Shockley again got the Lions offense going on their next drive as he put Albright in Colonials territory with a 27-yard run. A 23-yard completion to Roselli set the Lions up just outside the red zone, but the Lions were forced into a field goal attempt three plays later. However, the Lions faked the field goal as Shelley found senior linebacker Daniel Vital open at the three-yard line to give Albright new life on offense. Bootman cashed in the successful fake two plays later with a two-yard plunge, putting the Lions up 13-7 with 5:37 left in the first half. Western Connecticut State quickly raced into Lions territory on their ensuing drive, but were turned away again and missed a 34-yard field goal that kept the game at 13-7 into halftime.
 
Western Connecticut State wasted little time on the opening drive on the second half as they used a 48-yard kick return to start at the Albright 41-yard line. The Colonials needed just five plays to go back up at 14-13 with 12:03 left in the third quarter. However, the Lions quickly responded by going 65 yards in just five plays to take a 19-14 lead on a 21-yard touchdown connection from Shelley to Bootman at the 9:44-mark of the third quarter. Albright forced a Colonials three-and-out and extended their lead to 26-14 with 4:30 left in the third quarter on an 18-yard touchdown reception from Roselli. Shelley went 3-of-4 on the drive and targeted three different receivers. The Lions then surprised everyone by attempting an onside kick that was recovered by Bootman to give Albright great field position at the Colonials 43-yard line. Unfortunately for the Lions, Shelley was intercepted on the first play to give the ball right back to Western Connecticut State.
 
The Colonials took advantage of the turnover and scored at the 14:41-mark of the fourth quarter to cut the Lions lead down to 26-21. Once again, Albright's offense had an answer to Western Connecticut State as they scored a touchdown after driving 76 yards in nine plays. The Lions converted a pair of third downs and Bootman capped the drive with a 12-yard reception to make it a 33-21 game with 9:25 left in regulation. However, the Colonials struck right back with a seven-play 91 yard drive which took just 3:07 off the clock, and was capped by a seven-yard touchdown run at the 6:18-mark. The Lions were forced to punt on their next drive and the Colonials drove into the Lions red zone in the final minute. Jefferson preserved the win with an interception at the three-yard line with 16 seconds left in regulation.
 
Junior cornerback Omar Sesay led the Lions with nine tackles (seven solo) on defense and was followed by Vital with eight tackles (seven solo) and one sack. Senior linebacker Sam Viera matched Vital with eight tackles (six solo).
 
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, September 18th as they will travel to face crosstown rival Alvernia for their first official meeting in program history at 1 p.m.