The 2014 Apprentice School football season officially came to an end on Thursday night with the annual Awards Banquet.

The following were award recipients:

Joseph Hodge – Offensive MVP

Sophomore, Coating Specialist, Longwood, FL

• 131 attempts – 708 yards – 5 touchdowns
• Season high 188 yards at Alfred State – tied for eighth best single game
• Three games of over 100 yards
• 5 touchdowns – Merchant Marine, Bluefield, Catholic, both games against Alfred State
• Has top two average per carry marks (14.5 against Alfred State and 10.7 at Catholic)
• Finished second in the USCAA in rushing yards and third in touchdowns scored

Erol Carter – Defensive MVP

Senior, Molder, Baker County, FL

• 62 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks,
• Season-high 11 tackles against Bluefield College, followed by nine against Catholic
• Had six or more tackles in six of the ten games
• Had sacks against Alfred State, Coppin State and Webber International
• Honorable Mention All-USCAA selection as a senior

Blake Penix – Pop Lamkin Award

Senior, Electrician, Jesup, GA

Presented to the apprentice football player who consistently displays a positive and cooperative attitude enthusiastic support of team members excellent attendance and effective and consistent communication with the coaches and fellow players.

• Avg. 37.7 yards per punt as a senior
• Season long of 63 at Catholic
• 15 inside the 20-yardline
• 5 punts of 50+ yards
• Two-time first team All-USCAA punter
• Tied school record for most punts in a game at Ave Maria (11)
• Set school record for punting yards
• Averaged 43.7 yards per punt at Catholic for eighth-best single-game average
• Week before averaged 43.6 for ninth-best single game average against Bluefield

Travis Harris – Builder Award

Junior, Electrician, Sycamore, GA

The Builder Award is presented on behalf of the Apprentice Athletic Club to a student-athlete from each sport that has demonstrated excellence in four areas of their apprenticeship – Craftsmanship, Scholarship, Leadership and Sportsmanship. A candidate is selected based on their average shop grade over the course of their apprenticeship, the cumulative academic GPA in the World Class Shipbuilding and/or Advanced Curriculum, conduct on the job and the classroom, attendance and their overall athletic contributions to their sport over the course of the past year. Each year the Apprentice Athletic Club presents this award to the student-athlete who embodies the true characteristics necessary to be a great Builder but more importantly a great Shipbuilder.

• Fifth on team in tackles with 42
• Had six or more tackles in four of final five games
• Last two games had seven each against Webber International and Ave Maria to match his career high.
• Ran for the most yards (1,488) in ten years
• Had most rushing touchdowns (16) in seven years
• Highest yards/carry average (4.09) in 17 years
• Third most passing yards in school history (1,656)
• Fifth best completion percentage – highest in eight years
• Fourth best total offense output in school history – highest total in 20 years
  • First time averaging over 300 yards per game in the 2000s
  • Highest total offense/play average in 20 years

Team – Statistically Speaking

Defense (comparing 2013 to 2014)

• 13 fewer touchdowns allowed
• Allowed almost 500 yards fewer rushing
• Allowed over 300 yards fewer total offense
• Allowed over 560 yards fewer in all-purpose

Team – Honors

• Ten earn All-USCAA recognition
• Seven earn USCAA Player of the Week awards
• Joseph Hodge finished second in USCAA in rushing yards
• Trevon Johnson finished second in USCAA in receiving yards
• Blake Penix finished second in USCAA in punting average
• Roderick Staton finished second in USCAA in return average
• Brandon Jordan finished fourth in USCAA in points scored