READING, Pa. – The Albright football team suffered a 56-14 defeat to No. 8 ranked Salisbury in its 2021 season opener on Friday night at Shirk Stadium in non-conference play.
 
Playing its first regular season game in 657 days, the Lions will open the season 0-1. Meanwhile, the Sea Gulls of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), picked up their third-straight win over the Lions in season openers.
 
Senior quarterback Todd Shelley finished the day 16-of-36 passing for 119 yards with one touchdown and one interception as he takes over full-time starting quarterback duties. In his first collegiate start, sophomore running back Isaiah Shockley rushed for 123 yards on 14 carries to pace the Lions on the ground. It is the third-straight regular season game dating back to the 2019 season that the Lions have seen a running back cross the century mark in rushing yards. Senior running back Malik Bootman totaled a combined 41 all-purpose yards and scored on the ground. Senior wide receiver Kevin Zehner led the Lions in receiving with six catches for 59 yards and one touchdown.
 
The Lions opened the game with the ball and drove the ball to their own 47-yard line before being forced to punt after an incompletion on 3rd and 2. Salisbury needed just two plays to get on the board as Joey Bildstein scored on a 57-yard touchdown run at the 10:03-mark of the first quarter to go up 7-7. However, the Lions responded with a 16-play 82-yard drive to tie the game at seven after Bootman powered in from one-yard out. The key play in the drive came when Shelley found Zehner wide open at the Sea Gull three-yard line for a 20-yard gain on 3rd and 12. Salisbury struck back with a seven play 90-yard drive to take the lead back at 14-7 with six seconds left in the first quarter. The Sea Gulls converted a 3rd-and-7 from their own 13-yard line with a 19-yard screen pass before using three-straight runs to take the lead back.
 
The Sea Gulls extended the lead to 21-7 with 9:51 left in the first half following a Lions three-and-out to open the second quarter. Shelley opened the Lions next drive with a 16-yard run, but Albright was forced to punt three plays later. The Sea Gulls once again struck quickly as quarterback Jack Lanham found a wide open Shamar Gray off a wheel route for 46-yard touchdown to make it a 28-7 game. Shelley advanced the Lions to their own 48-yard line on its ensuing drive with completions to senior tight end Michael Starkey and Zehner. Unfortunately for the Lions, a holding penalty wiped out a six-yard gain on the next play, and they were unable to advance further. Albright stopped the Sea Gulls on fourth down in their own territory on the next drive just before the end of the half.
 
Salisbury used a 10-play 69 yard drive to extend its lead to 35-7 on the opening possession of the second half. Shockley broke off a 61-yard run for the Lions on their first possession of the third quarter that set them up at the Sea Gull 21-yard line. Following a nifty 13-yard run from Bootman, Shelley found Zehner in the back of the end zone on third and goal to bring the Lions within 35-14. Salisbury continued to use its red hot ground game to its advantage as they responded with a six-play 48-yard drive to make it a 42-14 game with 4:11 left in the third quarter. Albright seemed to be in business when Shelley found Zehner for a 33-yard catch and run, but a holding penalty wiped out the completion and ultimately stalled the drive. The Sea Gulls added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to cap the game off at 56-14.
 
Three Lion defenders recorded double-digit tackles on the evening as senior linebacker Daniel Vital led the way with 11 tackles (three solo), 1.0 TFL, and 0.5 sack. Sophomore safety Ryan MacFarlane recorded 10 tackles (six solo) and 0.5 TFL, and classmate Javontae Wayman matched him with 10 tackles (eight solo). Lanham went just 4-of-5 through the air for 79 yards and one touchdown, while adding 76 yards on the ground. Bildstein led all ball carries on the evening with 136 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Gray totaled 132 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, while Marcus Wilson rushed for 70 yards on seven carries along with two touchdowns.
 
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, September 11th as they will travel to face Western Connecticut State at 5 p.m.