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It took a mere three plays for Michael Nicastro and Albany to realize this season has a chance to be drastically different than the last.The junior linebackers interception and 38-yard return on the opening drive set the tone for Albanys 22-16 win at Buffalo last Saturday, its first over an FBS opponent. It was a watershed moment for a program thats struggled for relevancy since jumping to the FCS ranks in 1999, and an especially satisfying one for Nicastro. The 2014 All-CAA selection, who finished with 11 tackles, was playing his first game since suffering a gruesome knee injury on the same field in the Great Danes 51-14 loss to the Bulls a year prior.Anybody thats been hurt on a field the year before, theres got to be some apprehension, Albany coach Greg Gattuso said. But he went out and, I should have known, made an impact on the game. Hes just that kind of player. It shows why we missed him so much last year.Nicastros absence was one of several pitfalls that befell the Great Danes last season, when an underclassmen-laden group lost six of its final seven games and took a step back from a promising 2014 CAA debut.Theres reason to believe an upward move could be coming. Albany returns a conference-high 19 starters and has a schedule that doesnt include three of the leagues expected heavyweights in James Madison, William & Mary and Towson.With a visit to perennially rebuilding Rhode Island (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET) next up and manageable home games against Holy Cross and St. Francis to follow, the Great Danes appear to have a legitimate chance at a 4-0 start entering the defining portion of the slate -- a home date with No. 2 Richmond preceded by trips to Maine and Villanova in October.An opportunistic defense that forced 27 turnovers in 2015 adds to that optimism. The Great Danes had four more takeaways against Buffalo, including safety Mason Grays goal-line strip of Bulls quarterback Tyree Jackson that prevented a potential go-ahead touchdown with 3:52 left.Albany induced six turnovers in last Septembers 35-7 victory over Rhode Island, which has yet to reap the benefits from going young while winning just twice in coach Jim Flemings first two seasons.The Rams were inundated with early mistakes in their season-opening 55-6 loss at Kansas, with a muffed punt by All-CAA return man Harold Cooper and an opening-possession fumble putting URI in a 13-0 hole midway through the first quarter.Quarterback Wesley McKoy also seeks improvement after completing just 6 of 23 passes for 49 yards with an interception.The cleanliness of our operation needs to come a long way, Fleming said. We need to be able to compete in the short passing game. I thought there were some bright spots in the running game, we found some creases. Weve just got to find some more explosion plays.For Gattuso, the goal is maintaining the intensity, focus and execution the Great Danes displayed against Buffalo.If we dont play this way every week, we dont give ourselves a chance to win every week, we probably havent learned a lot from (this win), he said. Itll look nice in a timeline and things like that. Getting a win over an FBS school is outstanding and were very proud of that, but ultimately we need to continue to build on that start.HOUSTON, THE DUKES HAVE LIFT-OFFAny concerns of James Madisons prolific offense experiencing a decline in production under a new coaching regime were quickly dispelled on opening weekend. The 12th-ranked Dukes scored touchdowns on each of their first seven drives and generated points on the first 11 en route to their most lopsided win ever, an 80-7 thrashing of Morehead State in Mike Houstons debut. The scoring total was the highest ever by a CAA school against a Division I foe and surpassed the programs previous high of 76 points, set against Morgan State in 1995. The result also eclipsed a 72-0 rout of Lock Haven in 2000 as the Dukes largest margin of victory.Houston, who replaced current Texas State boss Everett Withers in January after guiding The Citadel to a share of the 2015 Southern Conference title, was as surprised as any by the outcome.First game, new coaching staff together, and you just never know truly what to expect, he said. But I thought that our kids were extremely focused and came out ready to play and played with a tremendous energy level. The thing that stuck out the most was how hard we played and for the most part, how clean we played all night long. Probably about as good an opening night performance as we could expect.Houston came to Harrisonburg with a reputation of developing relentless rushing attacks, and the Dukes certainly didnt disappoint in that regard. JMU produced a school-record 10 touchdowns on the ground and 498 rushing yards, its most as a Division I member.The offense likely faces a sterner test in Saturdays visit from Central Connecticut State (4 p.m. ET), which limited Lafayette to 22 rushing yards in a 24-10 loss last week.ON TAPA capsule look at Saturdays other games involving CAA teams (all times Eastern):Stony Brook (1-0) at Temple (0-1), 1 p.m.- The Seawolves are just 1-6 all-time against FBS teams but enter Lincoln Financial Field with confidence from a hard-earned 13-9 win over then-No. 19 North Dakota, while the Owls could be lacking some after surrendering 344 rushing yards in a 28-13 home loss to Army and facing a second straight week without their top offensive player, running back Jahad Thomas, due to an injured hand. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore, who served as Penns offensive coordinator from 1992-99 and whose brother, Ray, is the Quakers head coach.Delaware (1-0) at Lafayette (1-0), 6 p.m.- The Blue Hens recorded a 12th consecutive victory in the series after holding Lafayette to 55 rushing yards in a 19-9 win in Newark last season, though the Leopards have already matched their 2015 win total with last weeks defeat of Central Connecticut State. Delaware cruised past Delaware State in its opener behind an outstanding return from Wes Hills. The junior running back, who missed nearly all of 2015 with a broken foot, accounted for 212 of the Blue Hens 395 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns.Elon (0-1) at Charlotte (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Phoenix try to recover from last weeks disappointing 31-6 home loss to Gardner-Webb in which they were outgained 327-59 on the ground. Elon won its lone meeting with Charlotte 20-13 in 2014, though the 49ers were in their second year of existence at the time and have since stepped up to the FBS level.Lehigh (0-1) at #22 Villanova (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Wildcats enter the final home opener of the 32-year Andy Talley era with room to improve on offense and special teams, though the defense impressed in last weeks 28-7 loss at ACC member Pittsburgh. Villanova yielded 261 total yards and got its lone points on Rob Rolles fumble recovery off freshman linebacker Drew Wileys third-quarter sack. Three of the Panthers four touchdowns came on drives starting in VU territory, with the other a 96-yard kickoff return to begin the second half. Lehigh managed only 239 yards in its 23-21 loss to visiting Monmouth and has lost four straight and seven of eight in the series.Norfolk State (1-0) at #2 Richmond (1-0), 6 p.m.- After stating their case as a potential national title contender with last weeks 37-20 notice-serving victory at Virginia, the Spiders attempt to avoid a letdown in their home opener. Norfolk State, fresh off a 20-12 win over Division II Elizabeth City State, figures to have a hard time slowing down quarterback Kyle Lauletta and a UR offense that piled up 524 total yards against the Cavaliers. NSU, led by former Spiders head coach Latrell Scott, is 1-10-1 all-time against current CAA teams.Saint Francis (0-1) at Towson (0-1), 6 p.m.- Morgan Mahalak makes his home debut and should fare better than his first game as a Tiger, when the Oregon transfer completed just 16 of 36 passes and was intercepted once in a 56-20 loss at South Florida that knocked Towson out of the STATS FCS Top 25. Saint Francis, picked third in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, surrendered 353 yards and three touchdowns through the air in last Saturdays 41-31 loss at No. 14 Montana and was held to 197 total yards in last years 35-20 defeat to the Tigers. Towson has won all four meetings with the Red Flash.#13 William & Mary (0-1) at Hampton (0-1), 6 p.m.- The Tribe also should have an easier time after being overmatched against N.C. State in their opener. William & Mary has outscored Hampton 113-28 in winning three matchups between the Tidewater residents over the previous three seasons and outgained the Pirates by a 526-150 margin in last years 40-7 rout. Kendell Anderson rushed for a career-high 195 yards for the Tribe, but the All-CAA running back had just eight on five carries while hindered by a shoulder injury in the 48-14 loss to the Wolfpack.Holy Cross (1-0) at #24 New Hampshire (0-1), 7 p.m.- UNH christens the brand-new Wildcat Stadium with a potentially challenging test. Holy Cross won four of its final five games of 2015 and rolled to a 51-24 victory over Morgan State last week behind three touchdown passes from Peter Pujals, a four-year starter who earned first-team All-Patriot League honors last season. The Wildcats, who lost to Patriot member Colgate in last years FCS playoffs in the final game at Cowell Stadium, attempt to get their offense untracked after mustering 141 yards and going 0 for 14 on third downs in a 31-0 loss at Mountain West power San Diego State.Maine (0-1) at Toledo (1-0), 7 p.m.- After coming close to knocking off an FBS bowl participant from last season in their first game under Joe Harasymiak, the Black Bears take on another in a Toledo team that finished 10-2 a year ago and amassed 556 total yards in last Fridays 31-10 road win at Arkansas State. Maine wont have top wide receiver Micah Wright available for a second straight week due to a suspension, though Jaleel Reed filled in nicely during the narrow 24-21 loss at Connecticut by totaling 169 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.Penguins Jerseys China . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Wholesale Penguins Jerseys . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Stitched Penguins Jerseys . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium.CHICAGO -- Brian Hoyer led the Chicago Bears to their first win and maybe gave coach John Fox something to think about in the process.Hoyer threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns filling in for Jay Cutler, and the Chicago Bears earned their first win of the season with a 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.The Bears (1-3) got a win after starting 0-3 for the second time in as many seasons under Fox. They also stopped a six-game home losing streak as well as a six-game slide against Detroit (1-3), though things got tight near the end.Chicago was leading 17-6 when Andre Roberts returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. Golden Tate then caught a 2-point conversion pass from Matthew Stafford to cut it to 17-14 with 1:52 left, but the Bears recovered the onside kick.Hoyer was on target in his second straight start with Cutler nursing a sprained right thumb. He completed 28 of 36 passes against a defense missing the injured Ezekiel Ansah and DeAndre Levy.Fox has been noncommittal when asked if Cutler will start when he is ready to return, and he wasnt about to tip his hand after this one. Chicago visits Indianapolis next week.Id like to enjoy this for at least a few hours, Fox said.Hoyer shrugged off a similar question, saying, Its my role to do whatevers asked of me. Today, Im going to enjoy the victory. Whatever they say to me tomorrow, then thats what Ill prepare to do. I think thats being a professional about it.Eddie Royal caught seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Jordan Howard ran for a career-high 111 yards for Chicago.Zach Miller caught a touchdown, and the Bears gained 408 yards in just their second home win in 10 games under Fox.The Lions dropped their third straight, with Stafford struggling to find open receivers and a short-handed run game once again unable to get going.Stafford was 23 of 36 for 213 yards and was intercepted twice deep in Bears territory. He got picked off by Jacoby Glenn on a miscommunication with Tate near the end of the first half.And the Lions had the ball on the Chicago 23 when Deiondre Hall picked off a pass intended for Anquan Boldin with about four minutes remaining in the game.Marvin Jones Jr. had 74 yards receiving after setting a career high with 205 yards against Green Bay the previous week.ddddddddddddWe were just not sharp at all, coach Jim Caldwell said. There was no rhythm to it. Thats my fault.TO RECAP: The Lions settled for a 21-yard field goal by Matt Prater on the opening drive of the second half after two runs at the Chicago 1 got stopped.Hoyer hit Royal deep down the middle for a 64-yard gain on the next drive, setting up a 6-yard touchdown catch by Miller that increased Chicagos lead to 14-6 in the third quarter.But Chicagos Kevin White was slow to get off the ground after being tackled by Glover Quin following a short catch and eventually walked to the locker room with an ankle injury. Fox said he had no details on the severity of the injury.QUOTABLE: Tate on the interception late in the first half with the Lions on the Chicago 22: Just a silly mistake on my part. Ill own up to that. Just missed a signal. That cost us three points. Its tough. Its tough.Bears right guard Kyle Long on winning: We were 100 percent invested into this game. I dont even know who we play next.MISSING PLAYERS: Ansah sprained his ankle two weeks ago in Detroits loss to Tennessee and didnt return to the game. Levy has a quadriceps injury. He missed much of last season with a hip injury.Besides Cutler, Chicago played its second game without LBs Danny Trevathan (sprain thumb) and Lamarr Houston (season-ending left ACL tear). RB Jeremy Langford (ankle) was inactive after getting hurt last week at Dallas.OLD FRIEND: Joique Bell had a quiet debut for Chicago, running for 6 yards on three attempts. Bell was released by the Lions in February and worked out for them last week before signing with Chicago on Tuesday.INJURIES : Lions RB Dwayne Washington limped off in the first with a left ankle injury after he was tackled by John Timu on a second-quarter run. ... TE Eric Ebron aggravated his ankle injury and hurt his knee blocking on a run in the first quarter, but returned.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '