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READING, Pa. -- It took a little longer than the Albright College football team had wanted, but it was worth the wait.
Malik Gilmore blocked two punts, returning one for a touchdown, and Danny Tighe rushed for a career-high 143 yards and two touchdowns leading Albright to its first Middle Atlantic Conference victory of the season with a 38-20 victory over FDU-Florham on Saturday at Shirk Stadium.
Albright, which improved to 2-4 and 1-4 in the MAC, scored 28 second-half points to overcome an FDU-Florham halftime lead. The Devils, who lost their 14th consecutive game, fell to 0-5 ioverall and 0-4 in conference play.
FDU-Florham got off to a fast start and took a 14-10 lead into the intermission behind the play of quarterback Tyler Maurer who threw two first-half touchdowns to Malik Pressley.
Albright took its first lead of the game on its first drive of the third quarter. Tighe began the scoring drive with a 25-yard run and two plays later he punched the ball into the end zone from eight yards out giving Albright a 17-10 lead.
FDU-Florham answered the Albright score with a touchdown mark of its own. The Devils went 74 yards on seven plays and Anthony Ognibene scored from four yards out giving FDU-Florham a 20-17 lead.
Albright then took the lead for good late in the third quarter. The Lions capped a 41-yard, 5-play drive with a Tighe rushing touchdown from 1-yard out giving Albright a 24-20 lead with 1:20 to play in the quarter.
Gilmore, who also blocked an extra point attempt, blocked a punt by Holden Ehrhart with 14:53 left in the game and picked it up in the end zone giving the Lions a 31-20 lead.
After another blocked punt by Gilmore on the Devils next drive, Patrick Wise connected with Vinny Williams for a 10-yard touchdown with 11:42 left in the game pushing the Lion lead to 38-20.
Tighe finished the game with 143 yards on 23 carries sparking an Albright ground game that churned out a season-high 236 yards. Dwayne Randall added 77 yards rushing for the Lions.
Wise was 8-13 for 76 yards and two scores, while Williams and Dan Grillo hauled in touchdown passes for Albright.
Colton Ryan led the Albright defense with 11 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception. He returned the interception for a touchdown, but the return was wiped out by an Albright penalty during the return. The Lion defense registered five sacks on the afternoon led by Steve Barroso who had 1.5 sacks.
The victory marked the eighth consecutive victory for the Lions over FDU-Florham and head coach John Marzka remained undefeated against the Devils during his tenure.
Albright will have its bye week next week and return to action on Oct. 25 when it hosts King's at 1 p.m. in Shirk Stadium.