Football Dominates Erie for Fifth Straight Region 3 Title

CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu; (518) 416-2137 or (518) 629-7898
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 19, 2024

The Hudson Valley Community College Vikings continued their Region 3 dominance with a commanding 55-10 victory over Erie Community College in the 2024 NJCAA Region 3 Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Outdoor Athletic Complex on the campus of HVCC.

The Vikings showcased an efficient and explosive offense, opening the first quarter with multiple scoring drives. The scoring began with a 7-play, 33-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Cameron Harbaugh (Mountville, PA / Hempfield) to Bo Catherwood (Troy / La Salle Institute). Hudson Valley quickly followed up with two more touchdown drives, as Harbaugh connected twice with Micah Gates (Lancaster, PA / Hempfield). Gates finished the game with a game-high 102 receiving yards and two scores.

Harbaugh led the offensive charge, throwing four touchdown passes and finishing 13-of-22 for 224 yards and one interception. Dalton Howell (Middletown / Middletown) closed out the game at quarterback, adding two touchdown passes of his own by connecting with Demetrius Williams (Bensalem, PA / Bensalem) and Ryan Gavette (Canandaigua / Canandaigua Academy) for scores.

Catherwood also contributed with a 13-yard touchdown reception, while Kevin Mayfield (Pleasantville, NJ / Saint Joseph Academy) and Treshawn Patterson (Utica / Thomas R. Proctor) added rushing touchdowns, helping the team accumulate 395 total yards of offense. The 55 points scored by the Vikings marks the most points in a home game since October 2, 2021, when they defeated the New Jersey Warriors 51-6.

The Vikings' defense forced multiple turnovers and held Erie to just 207 total yards, with standout performances by Keere Rawls (Piscataway, NJ / Piscataway Township) and Dominic Jones (Cassville / Mount Markham). Jones finished with eight tackles including a fumble recovery and Rawls added seven tackles and a forced fumble. Alexander Hedhili (Kent, CT / Housatonic Valley) also added eight tackles on the day, which included a forced fumble. As a team, the Vikings caused five turnovers with forced three fumbles, four fumble recoveries and closed out the game with a late, fourth quarter interception by Zakai Armstrong (Newark, NJ / Weequahic).

Hudson Valley, now 7-1, secured its fifth consecutive regional title under Coach Don Jones and will turn its focus to Nassau, as they travel to Garden City, NY, on Saturday, October 26, for a 1 p.m. kickoff.