CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 30, 2006
Erie Community College (3-1/2-1 NFC)scored 23 unanswered points over the final three quarters in a 30-14 win over Hudson Valley Community College (2-2/1-2 NFC) in Northeast Football Conference action earlier today in Troy.
The game looked like it was going to be a high scoring affair right from the beginning. Erie marched 85 yards on six plays in its opening drive and Vernon Johnson ran it in from 26 yards away to take a 7-0 lead.
The Vikings responded with a 69-yard drive on its next possession and sophomore running back Woody Ajuste (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth High School) ran it in to the end zone from eight yards away which tied the game 7-7.
After holding Erie on downs on their next possession, Hudson Valley went 63 yards and sophomore quarterback Rodney Turner (Media, PA/Strath Haven High School) hit sophomore wide receiver Lewan Leslie (Baltimore, MD/Woodlawn High School) with a 33-yard touchdown strike.
The Vikings offense would then drive to Erie's 14 yard line on its next possession but an interception by Mike Carter in the end zone stopped Hudson Valley's drive and switched the momentum to Erie's favor.
Erie took a 20-14 lead into halftime after a 20-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Brown to Aaron Valentin and a one yard run by Brown.
Brown hit Yousif Youboty with a 26-yard touchdown pass on the Kats first drive of the second half to give Erie a 27-14 advantage.
John Rachuna would seal the win with a 37-yard field goal with 5:27 remaining in the game.
Ajuste rushed for a career-high 93 yards on 25 carries. Turner completed 15-of-24 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Erie amassed 409 yards of total offense. Johnson rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries. Brown completed nine-of-16 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.