What probably felt like a long two weeks of preparing for and playing road games to start the season, the UAlbany football team got healthy at home Saturday night vs Monmouth in front of nearly 6,400 fans.

Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks missed the first two games, which the Danes split, and two of the team's best players, tight end Anthony Manzo-Lewis and defensive end Malachi Hoskins, left a win over Morgan State banged up. With the return from a torn ACL and 2017 debut of Ibitokun-Hanks, the UAlbany offense reached new heights, perhaps surprisingly through the air. Redshirt sophomore Will Brunson was 14 of 15 on his pass attempts in the 1st half and he even ran for a 20-yard touchdown.

The Danes led Monmouth at halftime 22-7 and, despite a slow start, it was Ibitokun-Hanks who put the finishing touches on a 28-14 win with his 6-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. It's no secret, UAlbany's formula for success includes a heavy dose of the running game, but if head coach Greg Gattuso and company found something in a legit passing threat, the Danes will be tough to beat all season long.

Next up: home vs #8 Villanova

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