Fifteenth-Ranked Vikings Cruise Past RPI JV

September 11, 2005

CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, September 11, 2005

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The Hudson Valley Community College football team exploded for 35 first half points and held on for a 35-6 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic University's junior varsity team earlier today on the campus of Hudson Valley.

Hudson Valley (2-0), which is ranked No. 15 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association poll, has won seven straight games dating back to last season. The seven-game winning streak is the second longest in school history and the longest since Hudson Valley won 14 straight games over the 1995 and 1996 seasons. The Vikings will begin Northeast Football Conference play when they host Dean College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 17.

Sophomore running back Dane Samuels only carried the ball seven times for 44 yards but scored three touchdowns during the first 16:05 of the game that gave Hudson Valley a 21-0 lead. Samuels' performance allowed him to become the third leading rusher in the college's history with 1,258 career rushing yards.

The Vikings went up 28-0 on a five-yard run by freshman Bobby Ransom (Tallahassee, FL/North Florida Christian School) with 8:23 remaining in the half, and tacked on their final score with a four-yard run by freshman quarterback Marcus McLain (Pikeville, MD/Randallstown High School) with 2:25 left in the half. Ransom carried the ball six times for 54 yards.

Hudson Valley's defense held the Red Hawks to 110 yards in the game, including -14 yards in the opening half. Freshman linebacker Marcus Williams (Baltimore, MD/Randallstown High School) led the team with seven tackles. Freshman linebacker Lenard Leslie (Baltimore, MD/Woodlawn High School) and freshman defensive tackle Adewale Shekoni (Providence, RI/Hope High School) added five tackles apiece.

RPI's lone score came on a 13-yard pass from Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers/Iona Prep) to Matthew Bournea (New York/Brooklyn Tech). Robertson finished the day with 94 yards passing.