Troy, N.Y. - A week after upsetting the #15 team in the country at home, the Monroe College football team went on the road and wasn't as fortunate, as they fell to Hudson Valley College in a game played in Troy, New York, on Saturday. For the second straight week, the Mustangs were aided by a defensive score.
Monroe wasted no time getting on the board, as they took the opening kickoff 80 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown. The first big play of the drive was a pass connection from
Jalen Jones to
Tyvon Bradley for 13 yards and a first down in Orange Colts territory. That completion was the first of five straight pass receptions by Monroe, culminating with Jones hooking up with
Devanta Barnfield for a first down on the Hudson Valley 30. Three plays later, on a 4th and seven, Jones found
Elijah Smith for 21 yards and a first-and-goal at the six. Three plays later, Jones found
Kyle Levere in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. An
Elio Rodriguez extra point made the score 7-0.
Later in the quarter, a
Jalen Jones interception deep in Monroe territory setup the game-tying score from Hudson Valley. The game was knotted at 7-7 after one quarter of play. The opening drive of the second quarter saw Hudson Valley move the ball deep into Mustangs territory. They got down to the 35 before the Mustangs' defense made a big play. The Orange Colts' quarterback tossed the ball deep downfield and
Kamal Hardy went up and grabbed it for the interception, thwarting the drive and keeping the game level at 7-7. Hudson Valley later convereted on a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. On the ensuing Monroe drive, Jones and Barnfield for a 57-yard gain, giving the Mustangs a first-and-goal on the five. Three plays later, the game-tying field goal was blocked and Hudson Valley took a three-point lead into halftime.
Hudson Valley took the second-half kickoff and went on a touchdown drive. The trip took five plays nad 47 yards. Monroe was forced to punt after they got the kickoff and Curtis Pendelton had his punt returned 74 yards for a touchdown. Less than five minutes into the quarter and Hudson Valley extended the lead to 24-7. Monroe responded later in the quarter when Jones found Smith in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. The Mustangs pulled within 24-14. Following the Monroe touchdown, the Orange Colts responded with their third touchdown of the quarter to take a 31-14.
Pendleton would punt on the ensuing drive and when Hudson Valley got the ball back, the Mustangs defense forced a fumble and
Jerrell Murray scooped up the ball and scampered 25 yards for the defensive touchdown. Monroe trailed 31-21 after three quarters of play. Hudson Valley added two more touchdowns in the fourth and won 45-21.
The Monroe College football team returns to action on Saturday, October 17, when they Lackawanna in this year's homecoming game. The opening kickoff is slated for 1:30 PM.
