CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu or 518-629-7898/518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 17, 2022
The Hudson Valley Community College football narrowly defeated Erie 33-27 on the road in Buffalo, NY on Saturday afternoon as time ran out on the Kats as they held possession at the Vikings 10-yard line, to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Vikings kicked off the game with a 14-0 run behind two rushing touchdowns by Kevin Mayfield. Mayfield scored his first of three touchdowns on the Vikings opening possession of the game. As a result of an Erie fumble, forced by Dylan Lessard and recovered by Trey Vente, the Vikings were set up at the Erie 32-yard line. Mayfield closed out the possession with a 4-yard run. Mayfield finished the game with 126 rushing yards on 30 carries with a 4.2 yards per carry average.
The next Erie possession ended in a turnover again as Christian Bell intercepted a pass at the Vikings 11-yard line, to end the Kats attack, deep in the zone, but the Vikings were unable to take advantage of the sudden change of possession.
Mayfield later found the end zone again with a 14-yard run for another quick score as the time of possession of the scoring drive was 1:04. Hudson Valley took advantage of another Erie mistake and began the possession at the Erie 21-yard line.
However, the Kats were not ready to give in to Hudson Valley. They stormed back and scored 14 unanswered points to even the game up for a wild second half. The Vikings managed to move the ball late in the second quarter to give All-American kicker, Freddie Callo, an opportunity to convert a 35-yard field goal and the Vikings entered the break with a 17-14 lead over Erie.
The Vikings added to their lead to 20-14 in the middle of the third quarter with another Callo field goal from 25-yards out. Minutes later, the Vikings defense broke through the Erie line and blocked a punt attempt, which was picked up and returned 28 yards for a touchdown by Bell, extending their lead to 26-14.
As in the first half, the Kats did not give up and scored in the next six minutes of the game to pull ahead of the Vikings 27-26. The Kats failed its two-point conversion in an attempt to prevent the Vikings from winning on a field goal later in the game.
The Vikings regained possession with 2:41 remaining and began on their own 41-yard line, momentum was pushing towards the home Kats. An Erie defensive pass interference call helped keep the Vikings drive alive and the Vikings did not let the opportunity falter. On the very next play, Jordan Moran hit Omari Hopkins for a 34-yard pass and Mayfield closed out the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put the Vikings back on top, 33-27.
Erie started its final drive with 1:02 remaining at their own 33-yard line. Kats quarterback, Wrentie Martin went on to complete six of his eight passes on the drive and reached the Vikings 11-yard line, but the clock hit zero and the Vikings edged out the victory over their Region 3 rivals.
The Vikings return home this Saturday for Homecoming Weekend as they host Hocking College with a 12 p.m. kickoff at the Outdoor Athletic Complex. Following the game, the department of athletics will officially induct the Hall of Fame class of 2022 at 6 p.m. in the McDonough Sports Complex.