CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 17, 2005
The Hudson Valley Community College football team exploded for 28 points in the third quarter and held on to defeat Dean College, 30-24, earlier this afternoon on Veterans Memorial Field in Troy.
Hudson Valley, ranked No. 12 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll, improved its record to 3-0 and 1-0 in the Northeast Football Conference. The Vikings have won eight straight games dating back to last season and will host sixth-ranked Nassau Community College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 24. Dean falls to 1-1 and 0-1 in the conference.
Hudson Valley committed four turnovers in the opening half and was trailing Dean, 3-2, at the break.
The Vikings took advantage of a Dean fumble on its opening possession of the second half, driving 31 yards on six plays. The drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Marcus McLain (Pikeville, MD/Randallstown High School).
Freshman James Romain (Far Rockaway/Far Rockaway High School) put Hudson Valley up 16-3 with a 70-yard punt return following Dean's second possession of the half.
The Bulldogs would return the ensuing kickoff to Hudson Valley's 38 yard line, and three plays later, Tharrell Hatfield rushed it in from 23 yards away to cut Hudson Valley's lead to 16-10.
However, sophomore running back Dane Samuels (New City/Clarkstown High School) capped off the next two Vikings possessions with touchdown runs that gave Hudson Valley a 30-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A two-yard touchdown run by Dean's Mario Davis (Conyers, GA) cut the Bulldogs deficit to 30-16 with 8:35 remaining.
Hudson Valley then had its punt blocked on the following possession which gave Dean the ball on the Vikings 19 yard line. Quarterback Keenan Kelly (Warwick, RI) hit Theluxon Pierre (Everett, MA) with a four-yard touchdown strike which brought Dean to within six points with 4:55 remaining.
Dean would get the ball again with 2:13 remaining in the game, but Kelly's first pass of the drive was intercepted by freshman David James (Oxon Hill, MO/Oxon Hill High School) and the Vikings were able to run out the clock to preserve the win.
Hudson Valley's offense accumulated 313 yards on the day. McLain completed 13-of-24 passes for 208 yards. Freshman wide receiver Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs High School) caught seven passes for 76 yards. Samuels rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.
Kelly connected on 14-of-27 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Ira Coley (Cordelle, GA) caught four passes for 95 yards.
Sophomore linebacker John Fuschino (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa High School) had 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss, to lead the Vikings defense.
Dean got a huge defensive effort from freshman Josh Jennings (New Britain, CT), who finished with 19 tackles and four sacks.
