By Andy Walter

NEWARK — Delaware has lost another spring football game — off the field, not on it.

The Blue Hens’ home game with Albany, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled because the Great Danes have opted out of the rest of their season.

Delaware (3-0), which is ranked No. 8 nationally in the FCS, also had a CAA game with New Hampshire canceled earlier this season due to COVID-related reasons.

The Hens have two games remaining: at Delaware State on April 10 and at Villanova on April 17.

“CAA Football respects and supports the difficult decision made by UAlbany to opt out of the football season for the remainder of the Spring,” CAA commissioner Joe’D’Antonio said in a released statement. “UAlbany’s scheduled games with Delaware on April 3 and Villanova on April 10 have been canceled and the conference will announce any scheduling adjustments as necessary.”

Albany officials said they made the decision to cancel the program's last two spring football games because of the number of injuries its players have sustained.

"We are all competitive people and have done everything in our power to play a full spring season," said  Great Danes coach Greg Gattuso.  "While disappointed we won't see that happen, we are fully supportive of this decision. It all comes down to the health and safety of our student-athletes. I am so proud of our team for their efforts complying with all safety protocols and University guidelines dating back to the Fall semester and up to this point."

College games being canceled during the pandemic are not uncommon, of course. Albany was 1-3 after losing its last three games.

The CAA as a league has had eight games canceled this spring, including two by James Madison, which is ranked No. 1 in the country. CAA member Towson opted not to play at all this spring.

Chattanooga, which was 3-2 and had been nationally, opted out of the rest of its season because of players being sidelined by COVID.