CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, November 2, 2003
The Hudson Valley Community College football team scored the first 45 points of the game and cruised to a 52-14 win over the Union College (1-2) junior varsity team earlier today in Troy. Hudson Valley, ranked 14th in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll, has won 28 straight games over four-year college junior varsity teams dating back to 1994.
The Vikings have finished their regular season with an 8-1 record. With wins over Erie Community College and Nassau Community College, Hudson Valley has solidified itself as the top NJCAA team in the Northeast and will await a possible bowl invitation.
Sophomore Emmanuel Marc (Spring Valley/Spring Valley High School), the NJCAA's leading rusher, carried the ball 17 times for 123 yards and one touchdown to pace Hudson Valley. Marc, along with the rest of Hudson Valley's starting unit, only played until midway through the second quarter.
"We were able to get a lot of kids playing time today," Hudson Valley head coach Bob Jojo said. "The last thing we want to do is run up the score and get someone hurt."
The Vikings got contributions from several players. Freshman running back Malcolm Jackson (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth High School) carried the ball seven times for 34 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Gribulis (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley High School) completed seven of 10 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. He was replaced midway through the second quarter by sophomore quarterback Marquis Ingram (Far Rockaway/Lyndon Institute), who completed five of his six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively for Hudson Valley, freshman Javon Sistrunk (Brooklyn/Progress High School) finished with seven tackles and two interceptions, including a 45 yard interception return for a touchdown.
"We've had a very good year," said Jojo. "This is only the third time in school history that a team has won eight games in a season. That's quite an accomplishment for our players."
Sophomore quarterback Jeff Mahon (Carmel/Carmel High School) completed 15 of 29 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dutchmen.