Nassau Visits Hudson Valley in a Meeting of Northeast's Top NJCAA Teams

CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, October 24, 2003

Already guaranteed at least a share of the Northeast Football Conference (NFC) championship, the Hudson Valley Community College football team will meet one of the top two-year college football teams in the country on Saturday, October 25, when Nassau Community College visits Veterans Memorial Field in Troy. Kick off is at 2 p.m.

The game, which could have bowl implications, matches the top two teams in the Northeast among NJCAA schools. Hudson Valley has won four straight games and is 6-1 on the year. Nassau, coming off a loss at Georgia Military College last week, is 5-1.

Hudson Valley and Nassau have met 26 times on the gridiron in a series that began in 1969. The Lions are 25-1 against Hudson Valley. Coincidentally, the only year that the Vikings defeated Nassau, 1980, is also the only year Hudson Valley has went to a bowl game. Nassau defeated visiting Hudson Valley, 21-13, in last year's contest.

The Vikings, who have at least 10 NCAA Division I-A prospects on their club this year, will be looking for another big game from sophomore running back Emmanuel Marc (Spring Valley/Spring Valley High School). Marc has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 straight games dating back to last season and is leading the NJCAA with 206.0 rushing yards per game.

"Nassau is a very good team with very athletic linebackers," Hudson Valley Head Coach Bob Jojo said. "We have to be able to run the football, play the type of defense we've played all season, and limit our mistakes."

The Hudson Valley defense ranks first in the NFC, allowing only 185.6 total yards and 12 points per contest. Meanwhile, the offense, which amassed 569 total yards in a 39-28 win over Alfred State College last week, is leading the conference with 417.1 total yards per game.

2003 rushing leaders at each division of college football