CONTACT: R. Sean Coffey, (518) 629-7898, r.coffey@hvcc.edu
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 19, 2009
After last week's 46-43 defeat to Army Prep, Hudson Valley Community College made a huge statement to the rest of the Northeast Football Conference as they dismantled Lackawanna CC (2-1) on both sides of the ball and in special teams. The Vikings looked the sharpest they have all year and won the turnover battle, as they only lost one fumble and forced four interceptions and recovered two Lackawanna fumbles in a 36-10 victory.
Hudson Valley started off the game in their typical up-tempo opening series with a mixture of passes and rushes out of their no-huddle offense. The first drive ended with Andreas Hudson (Frankford, Philadelphia) hitting the speedy Darryl Thompson (John Marshall, Rochester) in the flat for a nine yard catch-and-run for the first score of the game.
Then, the defensive success of the first week of the season showed up as the Viking defense forced Lackawanna into four punts and recovered a fumble in the Falcon's first five possessions. The Hudson Valley offense replied with back-to-back long distance field goals by David Fox (Tamarac, Troy) from 37 yards and 41 yards out. Following the field goals, Hudson hit his favorite target, Akeem Jordan (Carroll, Washington D.C.), for a 15-yard touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, it was Hudson Valley, 19, and Lackawanna, 0.
Lackawanna made an attempt to get back into the game, as they scored ten unanswered points before the half, making the half time score, 19-10. Once again, the Vikings' defense answered the call as Brandon Harvey (Laurel, Laurel) made a spectacular one-handed interception to give ball back to the Vikings' offense. On the first play of the ensuing possession, back-up quarterback John Church (Winslow Township, Camden) found Ednut Egberongbe (Rockaway, Rockaway) for a 61-yard touchdown strike off an incredible reverse-pass in which the defense bit hard. This score gave the Vikings' all the confidence and breathing room that they needed, as they ran away from Lackawanna to a 36-10 victory. It was the first time that Hudson Valley has defeated Lackawanna in eight meetings.
Following the Church-Egberongbe hookup, Owusu Anane (Boys and Girls, Brooklyn) added a seven yard touchdown run and Fox added his third field goal of the day from 26 yards out.
Other notables were Kadeem Hall (West Deptford, Camden, NJ), who had an unheard of three interceptions and Andrew Cannon (Orange Park, Orange Park, FL) who scooped a fumble and returned it 77 yards before being dragged down. Brandon Hampton (UPCS, Worcester, MA) led the Vikings with eight tackles and Nick Scarpula (Minisink Valley, Otisville) added another seven. Hall also had a total of 108 all-purpose yards, 58 yards on four punt returns, 30 yards on a kick return and another 20 yards between his three interception returns.
Hudson Valley will be back home again next Saturday, September 26 for their Homecoming game against Dean CC. The Vikings now sit atop the NFC standings with a 2-1 record and a 1-0 record in the conference.