ALBANY, N.Y. – The Colonial Athletic Association’s top-to-bottom competitiveness was on display Saturday at windswept Casey Stadium and the Blue Hens barely avoided an ambush.

Delaware’s grand ambitions for a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth remained intact after the Hens rallied to down Albany 21-16.

“That’s the nature of this beast,” Delaware coach Danny Rocco said of the CAA. “It’s just that competitive.”

Unable to mount much offense all night, Delaware succeeded on its last chance in clutch fashion.

An 11-play, 83-yard march culminated in Kani Kane’s 14-yard touchdown gallop with just 18 seconds left.

Delaware was only looking to kick a field goal but Kane, the senior out of Sussex Tech High, broke loose.

“We have a good plan whenever we get into two-minute and I always feel confident when we get the ball back in those situations,” said Delaware quarterback Pat Kehoe, who threw for 56 yards on the winning drive, 46 to Joe Walker. “I know we have guys on the edge who can make plays as long as I get the ball out to them.”

Troy Reeder’s interception ended Albany’s subsequent series on first down.

The Great Danes had taken their only lead 16-15 on Karl Mofor’s 4-yard run with 11:44 left. It closed a 13-play, 75-yard drive that included a roughing-the-kicker call on an Albany punt and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Hens. Delaware was forced to punt on two subsequent series.

Albany managed just one first down on its final three series.

“We knew we had to get off the field to give the offense a chance to score,” said linebacker Charles Bell, who felt Delaware’s experience showed then.

Delaware (7-2 overall, 5-1 CAA) is ranked 13th nationally in FCS and has won five straight. The Blue Hens are at Stony Brook next Saturday and then host Villanova in their final two games.

CAA co-leader James Madison lost at New Hampshire Saturday. Maine’s win over Towson left the Blue Hens and Black Bears tied for first place.

Albany (2-7, 0-6) nearly notched its first league win after getting several players back in the lineup who’d been out with injuries, though coach Greg Gatusso was very critical of the officiating in his postgame comments.

“It’s very difficult to understand sometimes,” he said. “ . . . But at the end of the day we had a chance to win the game.”

Albany entered the game last in the CAA in total defense allowing 398.5 yards per game. Yet Delaware gained just 268 yards to Albany’s 299.

“Offensively we lacked consistency and we really weren’t able to get the point production that you need to have when you go on the road and try to find a way to win a football game,” Rocco said.

Kehoe completed 16 of 35 passes for 174 yards. Kane had 52 yards on 19 carries.

Elija Ibitokun-Hanks rushed for 78 yards on 15 carries for Albany and freshman quarterback Jeff Undercuffler was 15-for-28 for 171 yards in his first start.

Albany had driven 75 yards on six plays to start the third quarter to score on Ibitokun-Hanks’ 7-yard run and pull within 12-10.

Frank Raggo’s 32-yard goal with 3:01 left in the third period increased the UD lead to 15-10. Bell’s recovery of a fumbled Albany punt put Delaware in position.

But that lead was not safe.

“We did not play our best game today,” Rocco said, “Albany had a lot to do with that . . . We found a way to go on the road and win an ugly game.”

Lineman overcomes dad's death, injury to excel on University of Delaware defense

Raggo’s 50-yard field goal with a stiff wind at his back made it 12-0 with :48 left in the second quarter.

But Albany moved 70 yards on six plays, including 32-, 22- and 9-yard passes, and cut the lead to 12-3 on Ethan Stark’s 21-yard field goal as the first half ended.

Kane’s 1-yard run off a fourth-down direct snap was the Blue Hens’ lone touchdown of the first half. It came with 10:29 to go in the second period.

Delaware had inched ahead 2-0 after Ray Jones tackled Ibitokun-Hanks for a three-yard loss in the end zone for a safety with 13:20 left in the second period.

Albany had just made a goal-line stand to thwart the Blue Hens, who had four shots – three runs and a pass -- from the 1-yard line and couldn’t score.

Senior linebacker Bell’s interception at the 1-yard line and 72-yard return had created the favorable field position for Delaware.

Following the free kick, Kehoe’s 42-yard pass to Joe Walker put Delaware at the Albany 3-yard line. But Delaware again had a hard time getting into the end zone until Kane scored.

“I think we were a little bit too predictable,” Rocco said.

Delaware 21, Albany 16

Delaware 0 12 3 6 – 21

Albany 0 3 7 6 – 16

Second quarter

D – Safety; Ibitokun-Hanks tackled in end zone by Jones, 13:20

D – Kane 1 run (Raggo kick), 10:29

D – Raggo 50 FG, :48

A – Stark 21 FG, :00

Third quarter

A – Ibitokun-Hanks 7 run (Stark kick), 11:36

D – Raggo 32 FG, 3:01

Fourth quarter

A –Mofor 4 run (run failed), 11:44

D – Kane 14 run (pass failed), :18

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.