CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 2, 2000
http://www.hvcc.edu
Troy, September 2 - Lackawanna Junior College survived a furious comeback by Hudson Valley Community College and escaped Veteran's Memorial Field in Troy with a 28-21 victory. The game was the first of the season for the two Northeast Football Conference squads.
Sean Miller (Troy) hauled in a 64-yard touchdown pass from Justin Kastner (Hudson) with just 2:59 left in the game, pulling the Hudson Valley to within seven points. Hudson Valley's Lamar Grier (South Plainfield, NJ) then covered an on-sides kick off the foot of James Muscatello (Cohoes), giving the Vikings the ball and a chance to tie. Hudson Valley strung together a seven-play drive over the final three minutes, but fell just short of punching the ball in.
Miller had four catches for two touchdowns and 177 yards, just three yards shy of Jay Kearney's 1990 Hudson Valley single-game record. Miller's 177-yard effort ranks second best in the Troy college's history. Hudson Valley defensive back and kick returner Derrick Black (Tarboro, NC) also had an impressive day, contributing two interceptions and an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. On the day, Black returned five kickoffs for 158 yards. He also brought back one of his picks 28 yards.
Alan Jones (Newark, NJ) sparked Lackawanna's offense. The tailback had 22 carries for 162 yards and three receptions for 66 yards. He scored three touchdowns.
Hudson Valley takes to field again at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, hosting RPI's JV.
Lackawanna Junior College 28, Hudson Valley Community College 21 1 2 3 4 TOTAL Lackawanna 0 21 7 0 28 Hudson Valley 0 7 7 7 21 SCORING SUMMARY Quarter Time Team Play 2 14:47 Lackawanna Ezra Carey 1-yard fumble return (Nick Zdral kick) 2 8:21 Lackawanna Alan Jones 44-yard run (Zdral kick) 2 3:18 Lackawanna Jones 3-yard run (Zdral kick) 2 3:00 Hudson Valley Derrick Black 85-yard kickoff return (James Muscatello kick) 3 8:19 Hudson Valley Jason Owens 54-yard pass to Sean Miller (Muscatello kick) 3 3:04 Lackawanna Ryan Belicic 56-yard pass to Jones (Zdral kick) 4 2:59 Hudson Valley Justin Kastner 64-yard pass to Miller (Muscatello kick) TEAM STATISTICS Lackawanna Hudson Valley First downs 13 14 Rushing 34-151 yards 35-72 yards Passing Yards 136 209 Comp-Att/INT/TD 13-23, 2 INT, 1 TD 8-32, 1 INT, 2 TDs Fumbles/Lost 1/1 6/4 Penalties/Yards 14-94 9-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Lackawanna - Alan Jones 22-162, Paul Onzik 3-5, Charles Tamison 2-3, William Widener 2-(-4), Ryan Belicic 5-(-15); Hudson Valley - Gary Jones 17-72, Delino White 4-17, Quian Davis 1-8, Lamar Grier 2-6, Joe Bazile 3-2, Jason Owens 4-(-7), Justin Kastner 3-(-9).
Passing: Lackawanna - Ryan Belicic 13-23-2-136; Hudson Valley - Jason Owens 4-14-1-96, Justin Kastner 4-18-0-113.
Receiving: Lackawanna - Daryl Baldwin 5-40, Alan Jones 3-66, Damien Ramdedovic 2-11, Timothy Heitzmann 1-12, Paul Onzik 1-9, Harold Padgett 1-(-2); Hudson Valley - Sean Miller 4-177, Joe Bazile 1-17, Lamar Grier 1-8, Paul Zurlo 1-6, Gary Jones 1-1.
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 dominant stretch that included 15 straight victories.