Albright looking to shake long losing streak in Friday’s opener
Albright opens its football season Friday against Gallaudet at Shirk Stadium at 6 in pursuit of its first win in three years.
Albright enters the season with a 26-game losing streak and looking for its first victory since beating Alvernia 31-21 in Sept. 2021, under former head coach John Marzka.
The Lions have finished 0-10 in each of the past two seasons.
Isaac Collins returns for his third season with an entirely new coaching staff that includes Offensive Coordinator Tom Pajic and Defensive Coordinator Mark Fetterman.
The roster includes two Berks grads, both freshman: Quarterback Jack Riffle of Fleetwood and running back Jeremiah Diaz of Wyomissing.
Senior fullback Antonio Bargiel of Woodland Park, N.J., sophomore linebacker Darien Osmun of Spring Grove, and tailback Jarren Rutter of New Windsor, Md., are captains.
Defending champion Delaware Valley is the preseason pick to win its seventh straight Middle Atlantic Conference title. King’s is picked second and Stevenson third. Albright is picked 10th in the 10-team league.
Delaware Valley, which has won 53 straight conference games, opens the season with a new head coach, Mike Isgro.
Albright has opened the season on a Friday night every year since 2013. Friday’s game is the first time the Lions have opened at home since 2021 when they played Salisbury.
The Lions have not won a season-opener since 2017, when they beat Salisbury 38-35 in OT.
The Lions host Misericordia Oct. 12 in the annual Rajah Shrine Pretzel Bowl; they have not claimed the
“Pretzel Bowl” since 2017 when they beat Widener 9-7.
The highlight of the season comes Nov. 2 when Albright hosts crosstown rival Alvernia. Alvernia has won the last two games. Albright won the first meeting, in 2021.
Until recently Albright had just two winless seasons, finishing 0-10 in 1992 and 0-10 in 2018.
