FINAL SCORE: Apprentice School 39, Alfred State 34
RECORDS: Apprentice School 1-7, Alfred State 2-6
LOCATION: Apprentice Field/Newport News, VA

IN BRIEF: A three touchdown spurt over a six minute span of the third and fourth quarters helped lead The Apprentice School to a 39-34 win over Alfred State and snap a 12-game losing skid for their first win of 2014 on Saturday.

ON THE FIELD

• After a slow start, the expected scoring fest began as Alfred State used some trickery for the first touchdown.  Wide receiver Tavon Moore took a handoff and found Jason Gordon wide open for a 60-yard scoring pass to go up 7-0 with 6:57 left in the first quarter.
• The Builders responded with great field position to start a drive on its 34.  Hodge ended that with a 49-yard scoring run with 5:30 left to tie the game at 7-all.
• Alfred State returned the favor with a 57-yard scoring drive over the next five minutes as Moore found the end zone with his legs for a three-yard scoring run to go up 14-7 with 32 seconds left in the opening quarter.
• Following empty drives from each team, the Builders got back on the scoring train as Lavender found Stan Smith for a 50-yard scoring pass to tie the game 14-all with 9:19 left in the half.
• Alfred State answered with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive ending with a Jake Bahantka 23-yard scoring pass to Josh Ashley on a 4th down and 11.  The extra-point attempt failed as the Pioneers held a 20-14 lead with 6:29 left in the first half.
• After another set of empty scoring drives, the Builders got the equalizer with 70 seconds left in the half after taking advantage of the only turnover of the game.  A fumbled snap gave the Builders possession on the Alfred State eight-yardline and on third down Lavender found Alvin Goodwyn on a four-yard scoring pass.  The extra-point attempt failed to send the teams into halftime tied 20-all.
• In the second half, Rasheed Williams got into the scoring act for the pioneers as he broke off a 42-yard jaunt to put the guests ahead 27-20 with 13:05 remaining in the third.  
• The Builders stopped an Alfred State potential drive with a fourth down pass deflection from General Brown to set up shop on their own 22.  A 78-yard scoring drive was capped by a one-yard Lavender run to get the Builders within a point at 27-26 with 47 seconds left in the third.
• In the fourth quarter, the Builders scored twice just inside of three minutes apart to get some distance between the teams.  Lavender connected with Hodge on a 35-yard scoring pass with 12:20 left to take a 33-27 lead.  
• After forcing a three-and-out, the Builders got back in groove with a 54-yard scoring run from Roderick Staton for a 39-27 lead with 9:24 remaining.
• The Pioneers were not done as they went on an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive as Williams finished it with a two-yard plunge with 4:34 left for a 39-34 score.
• Alfred State had one last gasp on fourth and eight from their own 42, but a Bahantka pass just got through the hands of Gordon to give the Builders possession with 1:56 left.  An 11-yard run from Joseph Hodge gave the Builders a first down to be able to run out the clock for the win.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Hodge had his third 100-yard plus game of the year running for 105 yards on 17 carries to lead the team.  As a group, they ran for 250 yards on 42 carries which is the second-best effort of the season only trailing the first meeting with Alfred State when they ran for 309 yards.
• Lavender was 6-for-9 for 110 yards and three touchdowns to become the first Builder since Jonathan Whelan in the 2013 season-ending game with Ave Maria University to throw for three touchdowns in a game.
• In tricky winds gusting to over 25 miles per hour at times, senior Blake Penix averaged 38 yards per punt with two inside the 20 yardline and also had two touchbacks on kickoffs averaging almost 60 yards per kickoff.
• Nikko Patterson had eight tackles, while Brandon Hampton and Ryan Ransom had seven each for the Builders to lead the defensive effort.

FOR THE PIONEERS

• Williams, who had torched the Builders for 650 yards in the last two meetings was kept to 202 yards on the day with a pair of touchdowns on 37 carries.  The rest of the team combined for eight carries and four yards with one touchdown.
• Bahantka was 9-for-25 for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Moore completed his only pass for 60 yards and a touchdown.  Gordon was the top target with three receptions for 104 yards.

NEXT UP
Senior Day for the Builders will see them host Webber International in a 1pm start on November 8.