CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, September 24, 2017
Hudson Valley Community College football team's comeback ran out of time as the Vikings were defeated by the New Jersey Warriors 16-14 on Sunday afternoon in Holmdel, NJ.
The Vikings were outscored 14-0 in the first half after giving up a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by the Warriors. The Warriors combined for 17 plays and 110 yards during their first two scoring drives.
In the second half, Tajmaleeak Beckett (Jamaica/Flushing) marched the Vikings down the field for two touchdowns in the third quarter to pull Hudson Valley within four-points, 16-12. Beckett's first touchdown was a 67-yard deep pass down the left sideline to John Daly (Sparkill/Tappen Zee). A missed extra point left the score 14-6 in favor of the Warriors.
Beckett later marched the Vikings down the field for a three play, 40-yard scoring drive as he sent a 40-yard pass to Josh McClean (East Flatbush/Sheepshead Bay) down the right sideline, bringing the Vikings within two points of the Warriors. Hudson Valley failed to convert the two-point conversion attempt as Beckett threw an interception in the end zone. The Warriors returned the two-point interception 102-yards for the score, extending the Warriors lead to 16-12.
Beckett finished 5-of-8 for 120 yards passing with two quick strike touchdown passes. Daly finished with five catches for 97 yards and a score.
In the fourth, after the Vikings turned the ball over on downs at the Warriors 7-yard line, the defense forced a punt out of the Warriors end zone. As a result, the snap slipped through the punter's hands and out of the end zone for a safety, giving the Vikings two points and possession. Hudson Valley trailed 16-14 late in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings offense stalled on the final drive after failing to convert a fourth-and-one and the Warriors went on to run the clock out for the win.
Hudson Valley's defense allowed 136-yards passing with zero passing touch downs and held the Warriors' rushing attack to 64 yards on 39 carries for an average 1.6 yards per rush.
Football has a short week as they welcome ASA College to Troy, NY on Saturday, Sept. 30 with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.