Football Earns Historic Homecoming Win Over Nassau

CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu; (518) 416-2137 or (518) 629-7898
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 21, 2024

The No. 4 ranked Hudson Valley Community College football team had an historic homecoming weekend as they defeated Nassau Community College 28-7 on Saturday afternoon at the Outdoor Athletic Complex on the campus of HVCC.

The win snapped an eight-game losing streak to Nassau, the fifth ranked program in the lasted NJCAA Division III Football poll. In only the seventh win all-time (49 games since 1969) against the historical national-power, the Vikings offense exploded for 500-total yards of offense.

The undefeated Vikings (5-0) were led by sophomore quarterback, Cameron Harbaugh (Mountville, PA / Hempfield), who was surgical with his passes all game, accumulated 407 passing yards on 36-of-53 passing. Harbaugh now has 13 passing touchdowns on the year, matching his total from a season ago.

The wide receiver benefactors from Harbaugh's big day were Micah Gates (Lancaster, PA / Hempfield) and Damien Santiago (Carmel / Carmel). The dominant duo combined for 17 catches and 251 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Santiago scored the three touchdowns with nine catches and 125 yards. Gates also dominated the outside lanes as he grabbed eight catches for 126 yards, include a team-best 56-yard reception in the second quarter, which set up a touchdown pass to Santiago, putting the Vikings ahead 21-7.

The top-ranked defense continued to show why they deserve to be mentioned as one of the best defensive units in the country. Against the fifth-ranked Lions, the Vikings allowed 235 yards of total offense and held a team to under 50 rushing yards for the fifth straight game. The stout defense was led by Brandon White (Hamden, CT / Hamden), who tallied five solo tackles. Alexander Hedhili (Kent, CT / Housatonic Valley) added a pair of tackles including an eight-yard sack and a fumble recovery, which was cause on a strip-sack by Lathan Morse (Leonia, NJ / Leonia) in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings proved to be the better team and successfully executed its game plan over the No. 5 ranked Nassau Lions. They will now shift their focus to their Region 3 rival, Erie, as they travel to Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 28^th to take on the Kats at 2 p.m. at Williamsport South High School.