FINAL SCORE: Apprentice School 39, Coppin State 34
RECORDS: Apprentice School 1-4, Coppin State 2-2
WHERE: Apprentice Field
IN BRIEF: The homestanding Apprentice School Builders scored twice in a 2:30 span of the fourth quarter and held off a frantic Coppin State University rally to score a 39-34 win in front of over 3,000 on Trades Day/Homecoming at Apprentice Field Saturday.
Junior quarterback Jonathan Whelan accounted for five touchdowns, three in the air and two on the ground for the Builders. His connection with Kyle Elmore on an 11-yard scoring pass with 20 seconds left in the first half gave the Builders a 26-14 lead.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Coppin State cut the deficit to 26-22 on a three-yard Marquis Benjamin run and two-point conversion from Dominique Jackson with 12:55 remaining.
Apprentice School responded with a 36-yard completion from Whelan to Tylee Smith to put the hosts up 32-22 with 10:02 left. That was the second time those two connected for a touchdown as they teamed on a 61-yard scoring pass midway in the first quarter.
The Builders special teams came through on the ensuing Coppin State possession as Marlon Lane blocked a punt and the Builders took over on the Coppin State 10. On fourth down, Whelan pushed his way in from the one to put the hosts up 39-22 with 7:32 left.
Coppin State had a final run in them as Jackson connected with Stephon Fowlkes on a 27-yard scoring pass with 4:34 left to trail 39-28. After recovering the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles covered 35 yards on three plays as Aaron Kittrell scored on a four-yard run. The two-point conversion run failed and Apprentice School held onto a 39-34 lead with 3:14 left.
The Builders got a first down on their final series and was able to run out the clock to give them their first win of the season.
Whelan threw for 230 yards completing 13-of-28 and had three touchdowns while scoring two touchdowns on the ground. Leonard Leak ran 18 times for 66 yards to lead the ground game. Smith made his two receptions count for a team-high 97 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, freshman Shawn Way accounted for the other touchdown picking off a pass and returning it 35 yards for a touchdown. Lane was the leading tackler with 13, followed by Brock Bullock with 11.
BUILDER BITS
- The interception by Way for a touchdown was the first time in a year that the Builders returned an interception for a touchdown. On October 5, 2012 Teyquan Mayfield returned an interception for a touchdown against Southern Virginia University.
NEXT UP
The Builders are off next week and return to action on October 19 in Buena Vista, VA. against in-state rival Southern Virginia University. It's the first of two meetings with the Knights this year.
