CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 12, 2002
http://www.hvcc.edu
Erie Community College, ranked ninth in the latest NJCAA poll, scored 14 unanswered second-half points and held on to defeat Hudson Valley Community College 21-13 earlier today on the campus of Hudson Valley. The Vikings drop to 3-3 and 2-2 in the Northeast Football Conference (NFC) while Erie improves to 5-1 and 3-1 in the NFC.
Wide receiver Dalorean White (Warrensville HS) caught a short pass from quarterback Michael McDonnell (Bishop Timon) and ran it in from 32 yards out to give Erie its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 9:45 remaining. The Katz extended their lead to 21-13 following a failed fake punt attempt by Hudson Valley at its own 20-yard line. Three plays later, Martel Miles (Warrensville) took it in from eight yards away and Erie would never relinquish its lead.
The Vikings got on the board first after Larry Starks II (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) took the short opening kickoff to the Erie 46 yard line. Following a sack that dropped Hudson Valley back to its own 49 yard line, Emmanuel Marc (Spring Valley, NY/Spring Valley) took the handoff up the middle for the 51-yard score. Marc finished the game with 97 yards rushing on 20 carries.
The lead would last only 15 seconds because on the ensuing kickoff, Iran Black, Jr. (Bedford) made his way through the Vikings special teams unit for a 90-yard touchdown.
Hudson Valley reclaimed its advantage with 2:06 remaining in the half when quarterback Ryan Gribulis (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) found tight end Anthony Martinez (Albany, NY/Colonie) over the middle for a 31-yard score.
The wet conditions were very unfavorable for both offenses. There were 20 punts and 10 turnovers committed in the game, including seven turnovers by the ninth-ranked Katz.
Hudson Valley held Erie, who entered the game averaging 359.8 yards per-game, to only 199 yards of total offense including only 53 yards in the first half. Mike Miller (Akron, OH/Firestone) and John Howell (Columbia, SC/Lower Richland) each had nine tackles to lead Hudson Valley. Francis Brown (Camden, NY/Woodrow Wilson) ran his season interception total to four with two picks on the day.
Hudson Valley returns to action next Saturday, October 19 when it travels to Alfred State for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.