CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 14, 2019
Hudson Valley Community College football (1-2) earned their first win of the 2019 season this afternoon as they defeated NJCAA Region 3 rival Erie 20-14 for the first time since 2015 at the Outdoor Athletic Complexz on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College. The victory marks as the first win for the Vikings under head coach Don Jones.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Erie jumped on the board at 12:19 in the second quarter. Spencer Loftus tossed the ball 36 yards into the end zone for the score. The Vikings had an opportunity for a turnover, but the ball slipped through the fingertips of the defender and into the arms of a Katz receiver for the score.
Hudson Valley rallied and tied the game up later in the second quarter. The Vikings defensive back, Andrew Liverman intercepted Erie to set up a Vikings possession inside the Katz 30-yard line. Two plays later, Hudson Valley was on the board after Alex Dembroski completed a 15-yard pass to Daniel Manneh for the score.
Erie put pressure back on the Vikings immediately after halftime when they intercepted Dembroski and returned the ball 45 yards for the pick six touchdown and a 14-7 advantage.
The Vikings marched down the field and produced a 9-play 48-yards scoring drive in 3:18 of play. Dembroski connected for his second touchdown pass when he found a slanting Melvin Reid in the middle of the end zone. A missed extra-point left the Vikings still trailing 14-13, but they were gaining momentum.
Hudson Valley regained possession with 8:45 remaining in the game. As the crowd cheered on the Vikings, they marched down field in six plays and drained nearly three minutes off the clock. An Erie defensive offsides penalty put Hudson Valley at the 25-yard line. After Dembroski connected with Jeremy Clayton for a 17-yard gain, the Vikings here now in their goal line formation.
At the end of the drive, Desi Floyd rushed for two yards through the middle of the Erie defense for the score, giving the Vikings a 20-14 lead following a successful extra point.
The Vikings defense held on for the final six minutes of the game and secured the win when Noah Imperato sacked Erie's quarterback as time expired.
The Vikings will now hit the road for the next five games and they will begin on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Nassau. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.