At a glance
The Alfred State College football team fell nine yards short of rallying for a come-from-behind victory versus Hudson Valley CC. The Vikings kept the Pioneers off the board late in the 4th quarter to escape with a 27-21 Northeast Football Conference contest on Saturday. HVCC improves to 2-2 (1-1 NFC) while ASC falls to 2-2 (0-2 NFC).
The Alfred State College football team fell nine yards short of rallying for a come-from-behind victory versus Hudson Valley CC. The Vikings kept the Pioneers off the board late in the 4th quarter to escape with a 27-21 Northeast Football Conference contest on Saturday. HVCC improves to 2-2 (1-1 NFC) while ASC falls to 2-2 (0-2 NFC).
After Jeff Fabbri (West Warwick, RI) scored from seven yards out with 4:21 remaining in the contest to bring ASC within 27-21 the Vikings fumbled on the opening play of their next possession. Damion King (Detroit, MI) recovered the fumble to give the offense the ball at Hudson Valley's 9 yard line. In the following four plays the Blue & Gold could not get in the endzone and HVCC was able to run the clock out to secure the victory.
The Vikings got on the board just three plays into the game when Andreas Hudson connected with Eugene Cooper on a 55-yard scoring strike. HVCC went into halftime with a 14-0 lead when Hudson capped a 11-play 72-yard drive with a one-yard plunge with 2:07 remaining.
Alfred State got back into the game with a solid 3rd quarter. Geoff Hicks (Cleveland Hill) connected with Josh Griffin (Englewood, NJ) on a 68-yard scoring strike to cut it to 14-6 (the PAT was missed). Robbie Fagan (Coconut Creek, FL) rushed in from 35-yards out just two and a half minutes later to make it 14-12 with 25 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter (The two-point conversion failed).
Hudson Valley made it a two-possesion game on their next drive capped off by a Owusu Anane four-yard run with 13:36 remaining in the contest. Kyle Covert (Wayland Cohocton) connected on a 28-yard field goal four and half minutes later to make it 21-15 but the Vikings bounced right back with another touchdown drive with Hudson connecting with Kamar Jorden from 39-yards to up the lead to 27-15 (the PAT was blocked).
The Pioneers could not answer on the ensuing drive and punted as a comeback looked doubtful but on Hudson Valley's first offensive play Clifton Krotz (Cattaraugus Little Valley) recovered a fumble which set up Fabbri's rushing score with 4:21 remaining.
Hudson finished 20 for 35 for 403 yards and two scores. He connected with Jorden eight times for 169 yards and a score and with Coooper seven times for 139 yards and a score. Mark Kemper led the rushing attack with 65 yards on 12 carries while Anane finished with 52 yards and a score on 11 carries.
Hicks finished 15 for 39 for 208 yards and a score. His favorite target was Griffin who recorded his second straight 100-yard game with 117 yards and a score on six catches. Fagan finished with 35 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving.
Krotz led the defense with 11 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a sack while Robert Edmonds (Clinton, MD) finished with eight tackles. King chipped in seven tackles and a fumble recovery, Reggie Spence (Dania, FL) added seven tackles and an interception, and Malcolm Solomon (Rochester/Wilson) and Matt Perry (Belle Vernon, PA) both were credited with six stops.
Maradon Alcime led HVCC with 10 tackles, two pass break ups, and a sack while Ian White finished with six tackles.
The Vikings accumulated 535 yards of total offense but were slowed down by 14 penalties and three turnovers while the Pioneers did not turn the ball over but only accumulated 289 yards on the day.
Alfred State has two weeks to prepare for their next contest while Hudson Valley opens up the home portion of their season versus Erie CC. The Pioneers next play on October 11 when they travel to 2007 NFC Champion Dean College. Kick-off is scheduled for Noon in Franklin, MA.