CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, September 9, 2001
http://www.hvcc.edu
La Salle Institute, September 9, 2001 - Hudson Valley Community College's football team held SUNY Canton to 96 yards of total offense Sunday and allowed the Northstars to cross midfield just twice. The Vikings, meanwhile, playing their first home game of the season, tallied 344 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns through the air en route to a 21-0 Northeast Football Conference (NFC) victory.
Due to construction of a minor-league baseball stadium at Hudson Valley, the game was played at Troy's La Salle Institute.
Hudson Valley is now 1-0. The Vikings traveled to Pennsylvania on September 1 and played Lackawanna College, but the game was suspended when a pair of stadium lights blew out at halftime. NFC officials will determine whether the game will be continued or replayed. SUNY Canton is now 1-1.
Second-year linebacker Gary Smith (Concord H.S., Delaware) led the Vikings defensive effort, recording eight tackles (six solo) and an interception, which he returned four yards. Willie Edison (Cypress H.S., Florida) and Mike Alston (Gwynn Park H.S., Maryland) also contributed one interception each. Paul Haynes (Hudson H.S.) had five tackles, including two for a loss, and a fumble recovery and a sack.
"We had a solid game plan," said Smith, a 218-pound tri-captain. "It was a disciplined and focused team effort."
Vikings Pick Up Shutout Victory, Down SUNY Canton 21-0Hudson Valley held SUNY Canton's Curtis Hathcock, who picked up 129 rushing yards against Alfred State last weekend, to 48 yards on 19 carries. SUNY Canton's passing game also was shut down; the Northstars completed just six of 20 pass attempts for 60 yards.
Hudson Valley's All-American wide receiver Shawn Miller (Troy H.S.) caught two touchdown tosses from Dylan Cooper (Saratoga H.S.). Miller had a team-high six catches for 69 yards and Cooper completed 10 of 14 passes for 99 yards. Quarterback Justin Kastner (Hudson H.S.), who played most of the first quarter, hit Derrick Dyer (John Marshall H.S.) with a 47-yard scoring strike just 8:08 into the game. That proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
The Vikings spread the wealth on the ground - Maceo Clinton (William Floyd H.S.) had a game-high 73 rushing yards, which mostly came in the fourth quarter. David Hullum (Garfield H.S., Ohio) had 71 yards.
Hudson Valley has now won four out of six games against SUNY Canton since the teams began playing each other in 1996. The Vikings play again at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, hosting SUNY Morrisville at La Salle Institute.
"With our coach's help, we can get even better," Smith said. "Hopefully, there are even better things to come."
Hudson Valley's football program was established in 1969. At the time, Hudson Valley was one of only two junior colleges in New York to field a varsity football team. Since then, nearly 300 Hudson Valley football players have earned scholarships to four-year schools and 15 have gone on to play professionally. The Vikings competed in the Coca Cola Bowl in Iowa in 1980. In 1996, Hudson Valley posted an 8-0 record, part of a dominant stretch that included 15 straight victories.