CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 16, 2006
Hudson Valley Community College (1-1/0-1) failed to hold a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter and suffered a 23-20 setback in four overtimes at Lackawanna College (2-0/1-0) on Saturday. It was the Northeast Football Conference opener for both teams.
Hudson Valley's offense struggled to move the ball all game long, gaining just 157 yards of total offense and putting the Vikings defense on the field for more than 38 minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, Lackawanna started nine of its drives inside Hudson Valley territory.
Despite the inability to move the ball, Hudson Valley still owned a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter because of a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown by freshman Jeremy Pruitt (Far Rockaway/Far Rockaway High School) in the second quarter and an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown by sophomore Kyle Bowen (Albany/Bishop Maginn High School) with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Justin Brown caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from AJ McKenna with 9:03 remaining in the contest. Brett Arnold's 22-yard field goal tied the game with three second remaining. On the drive, Lackawanna had a first and goal at the two yard line but Hudson Valley's defense made the goal line stand that helped send the game into overtime.
Neither team was able to move the ball in the first three overtimes. Hudson Valley received the ball first in the fourth overtime. Freshman Paul Young (Stafford, VA/Forrest Park High School) hit a 40 yard field goal to put Hudson Valley up 20-13. However, Bloi-Dei Dorzan took the toss and ran 25 yards down the right sideline to give Lackawanna the win.
McKenna passed for 147 yards and rushed for 89 yards for the Falcons.
Freshman Jihad Morris (Newburgh/Newburgh Free Academy) made 11 tackles for Hudson Valley. Sophomore Reggie Johnson (Tarboro, NC/Tarboro High School) had two interceptions, including one in the end zone in overtime.
