CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, November 16, 2003
Emmanuel Marc named Offensive Player of the Game after rushing for 269 yards
The Hudson Valley Community College football team had its season come to a close with a 29-23 triple overtime loss to Ellsworth Community College in The Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
"It was a tough loss for us today," Hudson Valley head coach Bob Jojo said. "We've had a memorable season. This is the greatest group of players that I have had the pleasure of coaching at Hudson Valley. The second-year guys showed great leadership all season and never quit, even when we got down today."
Sophomore running back Emmanuel Marc (Spring Valley/Spring Valley High School) carried the ball 40 times for 269 yards and a touchdown for Hudson Valley. Marc, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, finished the season with 2,038 yards and compiled 3,273 yards in his two-year career at the college.
Hudson Valley trailed 17-6 late in the third quarter when Marc ran it in from 39 yards away to cut the Vikings' deficit to 17-13 with 2:07 remaining in the quarter.
After the Hudson Valley defense held Ellsworth to three plays and out on the ensuing possession, the Vikings' offense marched 74 yards on nine plays to take a 20-17 lead with 12:07 remaining in the game. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Gribulis (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley High School) capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
Ellsworth sent the game into overtime with a 36-yard field goal by David Lonie (Gold Coast, Australia) with 1:18 remaining in regulation. The Panthers' drive was set up with a 39-yard punt return by Tanner Varner (Ottumwa, IA).
Ellsworth got the ball first in the initial overtime period but was stopped when freshman safety Damion Malott (Akron, OH/Akron North High School) intercepted a pass in the end zone. However, the Vikings could not capitalize, fumbling the football on its possession in the first overtime.
The two teams traded field goals in the second overtime. Sophomore kicker Dan Farrell (Stillwater/Stillwater High School) hit a 21-yard field goal to put the Vikings up 23-20. Lonie sent the game into a third overtime with a 39-yard field goal of his own.
On a fourth down and goal play, quarterback Junior Alexis (Delray Beach, FL) snuck it in from one yard away to give Ellsworth a 29-23 advantage. The two point conversion run failed.
The Vikings marched the ball down to the 11 yard line on their possession in the third overtime but were stopped when linebacker Matt Rodemeyer (Hampton, IA) jumped on a Hudson Valley fumble to end the contest.
Hudson Valley amassed 450 yards in the contest against 305 yards for the Panthers. Gribulis completed 13 of 25 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore fullback Atiba Taylor (Spring Valley/Ramapo High School) carried the ball four times for 33 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards.
Alexis completed 15 of 30 passes for 203 yards, including a 61 yard touchdown pass to Tom Anthony (Pleasant Valley, IA) that gave Ellsworth a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Sophomore Dan Pizzarelli (Poughkeepsie/Roosevelt High School) had 12 tackles to lead the Hudson Valley defense. Malott and sophomore nose guard Ernest Jones (Bronx/Lehman High School) added 10 tackles apiece.
Hudson Valley, which was competing in a bowl for only its second time in school history and the first time since 1980, finished its season with an 8-2 record while Ellsworth finished its year with a 6-4 mark. Ellsworth improves its all-time record in bowl games to 19-1.
