Skylanders Earn First Win of the Season in Thursday Night Thriller

Hudson Valley, NY – October 12, 2024

Head coach James Robertson was thrilled with the fight his team showed in Thursday night's victory, reflecting on the challenges they've faced in previous games. "In matchups against Monroe and Louisburg, when we got behind, heads started to bow, and the guys didn't know how to respond to adversity. Late against Louisburg, we showed some resilience in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. Two weeks ago, against Lackawanna, we went toe-to-toe for a lot of that game. Tonight, we jumped out early, faced some adversity, but kept our heads up, believed in one another, and battled to the end."

In a dramatic back-and-forth contest, Sussex County Community College secured its first win of the season, defeating Hudson Valley Community College 26-21 at the Outdoor Athletic Complex on Thursday night.

The Skylanders stormed out to a 19-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, powered by quarterback Maurice Williams' stellar performance. Williams delivered a 5-yard rushing touchdown and connected for two more scores through the air, finding wide receivers Malik Baker and Maddix Bogunia-Bright. Hudson Valley fought back fiercely, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-19 lead late in the fourth quarter behind standout quarterback Cameron Harbaugh. However, Sussex responded in the final moments, as Williams threw a 16-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Baker with just 45 seconds remaining.

Sussex set the tone early with an efficient offense that took control in the first quarter. Their opening drive covered 67 yards in eight plays, capped by Williams' 5-yard rushing touchdown. Moments later, Williams hit Baker with a 35-yard strike to extend the lead to 13-0. As the quarter wound down, Williams connected with Maddix Bogunia-Bright for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Skylanders a commanding 19-0 advantage.

Hudson Valley mounted its comeback in the second quarter, as Kevin Mayfield punched in a 1-yard touchdown, finishing off an 11-play, 59-yard drive to cut the deficit to 19-7. The Vikings continued their surge in the third quarter when Harbaugh found Brandon Hawkins for a 26-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 19-14.

In the fourth quarter, Hudson Valley completed the comeback, with Harbaugh leading a 92-yard drive and throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Collin Johnson, giving the Vikings a 21-19 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining.

At this critical juncture, Williams, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury for most of the second half, came off the bench and led Sussex on a decisive 40-yard drive in the final minute. He capped it off with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Baker, securing the 26-21 victory for Sussex. Reflecting on the comeback, Coach Robertson said, "Jay Carney came in and did some good things offensively with Mo on the bench for injury, but we just couldn't finish. After Hudson Valley scored to take the lead, I was talking to Coach Weldon about the next series, and Mo was standing there with his helmet on. We confirmed with the trainer that he was good to go, and he led the team down to a game-winning score. That's the spark this team needs. Mo, clearly still not 100%, put the team on his back and threw a dime to Baker between two defenders to take the lead. It's the kind of thing you see in movies. As a true freshman, this kid is special."

Sussex's offense shined, totaling 417 yards—216 on the ground and 201 through the air. Maurice Williams was a standout, completing 13 of 22 passes for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns, while adding 37 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 carries. Malik Baker was the top receiver, hauling in 9 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Defensively, Sussex held Hudson Valley's rushing attack—which averaged 143.2 yards per game prior to the matchup—to just 61 rushing yards. The Skylanders' defense limited the Vikings to 304 total yards. Defensive End Robert Garrett led the charge with 10 total tackles, including 6 solo, 2.5 sacks, and 1 tackle for loss.

After the game, Coach Robertson expressed his pride in the team's resilience. "I am so proud of this team. I can't say the first month of the season has gone how we thought it would, but the coaching staff has done a great job of keeping the guys together and motivated. We're in full playoff mode going forward. In order to keep our season alive, we need to continue to win. We have some huge matchups coming up against some really good teams. We don't have an easy road, but I believe in the guys and the coaches to fight our way back. We are a very dangerous team, and no one will be counting on us to win anything going forward. Our backs are up against the wall."

The Skylanders will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for October 19th when they travel to Lackawanna for the second matchup of the season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET at PenFed Field at Scranton Memorial Stadium, marking Homecoming for Lackawanna College. Meanwhile, Hudson Valley will regroup for the NJCAA Region 3 Championship against Erie, scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at 2 p.m. at the Outdoor Athletic Complex.