CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, November 4, 2017

Hudson Valley Community College football (1-8) dropped a hard fought match-up 18-7 to Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) at home on Saturday afternoon. 

Following a scoreless opening quarter, NAPS jumped out to a 6-0 lead with 9:03 remaining in the second quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run. NAPS failed to convert on the two-point attempt. Hudson Valley responded with a scoring drive that lasted 2:30 as Tajmaleeak Beckett (Jamaica/Flushing) hit Shaquille Edmond (Farmingdale, N.J./Wall) for a 16-yard touchdown. Nathan Fankhanel (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) converted the extra point and the Vikings took the 7-6 lead.

Prior to halftime, NAPS put together a 13-play scoring drive for 61-yards with seven seconds remaining on the clock to sneak ahead of Hudson Valley 12-7. Following the break, NAPS scored again at the end of the third quarter on a 38-yard passing touchdown and extended its lead to 18-7.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings had a pair of red zone opportunities, including a 26-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by NAPS to end the Vikings opening drive of the fourth quarter.

Beckett finished the game with 13 completions for 253 passing yards and Andres Blanco (Poughkeepsie/Spackenkill) carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards to lead the Vikings offensively. Edmond quickly became Beckett's top target as he hauled in five catches for 148-yards and a score.

Defensively, Kapone Brown (Woodbury/Woodbury) and Isaiah Moak (Averill Park/Averill Park) each recorded a sack and combined for 22 total tackles. Richard Eversleigh (Tampa Bay, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch) added eight tackles while Jaleel Kyles (Elmira/Putnam Academy) and John (Jack) Fitzgerald (Johnstown/Johnstown) each had seven total tackles on the afternoon.

The 2017 football season comes to a close next Saturday, Nov. 11 when the Vikings play host to the Apprentice Academy at 12 p.m.