CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 13, 2001
http://www.hvcc.edu
Hudson Valley's Defense Forces Five Turnovers
And Butera Ties School Record With Seven PATs
La Salle Institute, October 13, 2001 - Hudson Valley Community College's kicker had a record-tying day. The Vikings' punter-turned-fullback didn't do too bad either in Hudson Valley's 55-21 win over Northeast Football Conference foe Alfred State College today.
Placekicker John Butera (Greece Olympia H.S.) tied Hudson Valley's record for extra points in a game with seven (Andy DiSanti nailed seven in a game against Dean College in 1970), including the record-tying kick with just 20 seconds left in the game. Butera, who also recorded two touchbacks on kickoffs, made all seven extra points he attempted; the Vikings muffed a snap on a third-quarter extra-point attempt and opted to try for a two-point conversion, which failed.
"I love to kick PATs," Butera said. "I just want to help the team win."
While Butera did his job, punter Lewis Crumb (Newburgh Free Academy) went above and beyond, spending some time at fullback for the Vikings. The 5-foot-9, 205-pound freshman ran the ball twice and picked up two touchdowns, scoring on a 23- and a four-yard scamper.
"That was a good performance by Hudson Valley on both sides of the ball," said Butera, who now has 18 extra points this season and needs just seven more to break the school's single-season record (John Taylor made 24 PATS in 1997). "We were sharp all around today."
The Vikings, who have defeated Alfred all six times the two teams have played, are now 5-1 overall and 4-0 in NFC play. Alfred is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the NFC.
Tailback Maceo Clinton (William Floyd H.S.) scored twice for the Vikings. All-American wide receiver Shawn Miller (Troy H.S.) put Hudson Valley on the board first, hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Cooper (Saratoga H.S.), who contributed 119 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Miller, who finished with three receptions, also returned a punt 65 yards.
Leonardo Gonzalez (Tuckahoe H.S.), Thomas Baldwin (Clifford J. Scott H.S., NJ) and John Slater (Cohoes H.S.), all freshmen, each scored for the first time in their Hudson Valley careers. Baldwin, a tailback, had two carries for 106 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Ronly London (Clifford J. Scott H.S., NJ) completed his first two passes of the season, one of which was a 19-yard touchdown toss to Slater.
Hudson Valley's defense, meanwhile, picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles. Lou Funaro (Mechanicville H.S.) and Gary Smith (Claymont, DE) led the way with nine tackles each, all recorded in the first half. They each forced a fumble, and Funaro also contributed a sack. Mike Miller (Firestone H.S., OH), Antoine Cunningham (Clifford J. Scott H.S.) and Tadashi Baumgardner (Roosevelt H.S.) each intercepted an Alfred pass
Hudson Valley hosts Navy Prep at La Salle Institute at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 20.
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.