9/22/23

SCRANTON, Pa. -- After suffering their first defeat of the 2023 campaign, the Lackawanna College Falcons will look to bounce back with a familiar foe on Long Island this weekend, as the Falcons are set to take on Nassau Community College on Saturday afternoon in Uniondale, NY.

Kickoff between the two squads is set for a 1:00pm ET start at Mitchel Field. There is a video livestream available via the Nassau CC Livestream HERE.

The Falcons (2-1) come into the game after dropping a 17-9 decision on the road at Georgia Military College. Lackawanna outgained the Bulldogs, but was held well below its season average in terms of yardage, and was just 2-for-13 on third down in a game the Falcons never held a lead. Trailing 10-3 after halftime, Lackawanna put together a touchdown drive that, after a blocked extra point, made it 10-9. After a quick three-and-out, the Falcons drove the ball down the field once again, threatening to score and take the lead in the third, but a deflection on the go-ahead field goal attempt kept the Birds off the board, and Georgia Military scored a late touchdown in the fourth to help salt the game away. You can read the full recap HERE.

Nassau (1-2) picked up its first win last weekend, when the Lions broke a 6-6 deadlock with a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to knock off Hudson Valley CC, 13-6, in the NJCAA Game of the Week on ESPN+ in Troy, NY. Neither team got much going offensively, and it was Rayshion Bien-Aise, with Nassau trailing 3-0 to start the second quarter, that got the Lions going, returning a punt for 73 yards to the house to get Nassau in front at 6-3. HVCC kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to tie the game, and it remained that way through the third, but two big plays helped put the Lions back in front. First, A Yarden Gazit pass to Isaiah Madrey that picked up 32 yards and put the Lions at the HVCC 25-yard line to close the third. Then, to start the fourth, a Kevon Hall 25-yard touchdown run that put Nassau in front 13-6. Hudson Valley got all the way to the Nassau 8-yard line before an unsportsmanlike penalty pushed the Vikings back, eventually forcing them to try a 33-yard field goal that missed wide left. After forcing a Nassa punt, Hudson Valley got the ball back and drove inside the Nassau 40-yard line thanks to a facemask penalty, but a second down fumble gave the ball back to the Lions, who ran out the clock for the win. 

This will be the 30th meeting between Lackawanna College and Nassau Community College, the longest tenured rivalry in the Falcons football history. Nassau holds an 18-11 advantage in the 29 previous encounters, but the Falcons have won the last seven in a row, including last year's season opener, 21-14, at home. You can read the recap from that game HERE. Nassau, at one point, had won 12 of 13 meetings against Lackawanna, but the Falcons have not lost against their oldest rival since 2014.  

You can read the full games notes for this week's contest HERE.

Lackawanna College is next in action on Saturday, September 30th, when the Falcons finally return home. Waiting for them will be their Region XIX battery mate, Sussex County Community College. Kickoff is set for 1:00pm ET at PenFed Field at Scranton's Memorial Stadium.