CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 16, 2004
Freshman running back Dane Samuels (Clarkstown/Clarkstown High School) rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Hudson Valley Community College football team to a 29-14 win over Alfred State College on Saturday in Wellsville.
Hudson Valley improves its record to 4-3 and 3-2 in the Northeast Football Conference. The Vikings will host Nassau Community College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, in a game that could decide the East Division championship. Alfred State falls to 3-4 and 0-4 in the NFC.
Samuels broke a 7-7 tie with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter with a five-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point was blocked but Hudson Valley's Shonda Faulkner (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie High School) jumped on the loose ball in the end zone and the Vikings were credited with the two-point conversion, which gave them a 15-7 advantage.
Samuels than scored on touchdown runs from 20 yards out and 12 yards away on Hudson Valley's next two possessions to put the game out of reach.
Hudson Valley rushed for 248 yards and finished with 307 total yards on the game. Freshman running back Ervin Battle-Baldwin (Richmond, VA/Huguenot High School) carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards.
Alfred State got 53 rushing yards on 11 carries from Lennox Norville (Freeport).
In addition to his two-point conversion, Faulkner finished with eight tackles and blocked a field goal. Sophomore defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth High School) recorded three tackles and a sack, setting Hudson Valley's career record with 17 sacks.
The Vikings intercepted four passes in the second half. Freshman C.J. Tarver (Albany/Bishop Maginn High School) had two picks.
With the win, Hudson Valley gave head coach Bob Jojo his 38th career win, which ties former coach Dave Bochette for the most in the college's history. Jojo, who is in his seventh season, has a 38-21 all-time record.