CONTACT: Justin Hoyt, (518) 629-7898, j.hoyt@hvcc.edu
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 11, 2014
The Hudson Valley Community College football team (6-0) defeated Monroe College (2-4), 20-14, on Saturday evening.
Rafael Hidalgo (Brooklyn Lab/Queens) got the Vikings on the board when he connected with Chris Osterman (FDR/Poughkeepsie) for a 58-yard touchdown in the first quarter. K'Vaunte Smith (Archibiship Spalding/Baltimore County, MD) added a touchdown in the second to give the Vikings a 14-7 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Monroe blocked a punt and punched it in a few plays later to tie it at 14. The defense came up big in the fourth quarter and the offense was able to capitalize when Nick Casale (Tamarac/Troy) found Craig Hardgers (Greece Olympia/Rochester) for a 33-yard touchdown. Monroe made one last push and threw up a hail mary as time expired, which the receiver caught, but was ruled out of bounds as the Vikings escaped with a 6-point win to remain undefeated on the year.
Hidalgo finished the game with 217 yards and one touchdown, and Casale added 53 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Osterman led all receivers with 126 yards and a touchdown, and Hardgers recorded a team-high eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball Sean Copeland (Overlea/Baltimore City, MD) led the team with 8.5 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Ashton McKenzie (Dewitt Clinton/Bronx) recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and sack, and Tavon Town (Gar-Field/Woodbridge, VA) added a forced fumble and fumble recovered.
The Vikings head over to Union next Sunday to take on their JV squad for a game at noon.
