CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Monday, September 30, 2002
www.hvcc.edu
The Hudson Valley Community College football team used a "bend, but don't break" defense and got an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Larry Starks (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) to defeat Dean Junior College 19-10 on Saturday. Hudson Valley is now 2-2 and 1-1 in the Northeast Football Conference.
Dean penetrated the red-zone on five different occasions but was only able punch it in once as the Vikings defense came away with several big stops including a forced fumble at the 10-yard line by Robert Holt (Edison, NJ/J.F. Kennedy) with 5:30 remaining in the contest. Linebacker Audwin Davis (Tuckahoe/Tuckahoe) recovered the fumble and Hudson Valley controlled the ball until the final horn.
Emmanuel Marc (Spring Valley/Spring Valley) rushed for 111 yards on only 10 carries to lead the Hudson Valley attack. Marc scored on a 36-yard run with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter to give the Vikings a nine-point cushion that they never relinquished.
Starks, who also had a 73-yard punt return in the game, finished with 40 yards on 12 carries. The punt return for Starks was the longest in school history, eclipsing the old mark, a 65-yard scamper by Shawn Miller, set last year against Alfred State.
Marc is averaging 78.8 yards per-game on the ground to pace the Vikings rushing attack. Quarterback Ronly London (East Orange, NJ/Clifford J. Scott) has completed 32 of 88 pass attempts for 535 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Anthony Martinez (Colonie/Colonie) has caught 17 passes for 236 yards and two scores.
Upcoming Football Action: Saturday, October 5, at Canton, 1 p.m.
In the 2000-01 academic year, Hudson Valley's athletic teams combined to win 72 percent of their contests. The ice hockey team won the NJCAA championship, the baseball team earned a berth in the NJCAA World Series and the football team won the Region III title. The women's basketball team earned a No. 1 national ranking and turned in a 24-3 record while the men's hoop squad competed in the Region III championship game. Additionally, two Vikings earned Region III Player-of-the-Year status, 20 were named All-Region III performers, and 10 were honored with All-American status.
