Williams Leads Big Pioneer Comeback

Rasheed Williams (Swedesboro, NJ) scored four 2nd half touchdowns as the Alfred State football team rallied from a 17-point deficit, 30-13, and scored 31 unanswered points to defeat the Apprentice School 44-30. Williams finished the day with five rushing scores.

After Austin Wall hit a 19-yard field goal with 9:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter to give Apprentice a 30-13 lead the Pioneers turned the game around. The defense held the Builders to under 100 yards the rest of the way and forced two turnovers while the offense racked up 269 yards.

Williams took the 3rd play of the Pioneers next drive 69-yards for a score to cut the lead to 10, 30-20. After a defensive stop, Alfred State drove down deep into Builders territory but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Keegan Phalen (East Aurora) to make it a one possesion game.

In the Pioneers first possession of the 4th quarter after the defense forced back to back three and outs, Williams capped a two-play drive with a three-yard run to knot the game up. 

The defense stood tall again forcing their third straight three and out and the Pioneers got the ball on their own 41. Four plays later, Williams gave the blue & gold their first lead of the day when he scored from 48-yards out.

Gerald Bailey (Buffalo/MST Prep) forced a Builder fumble on their next possession to give the Pioneers back the ball. On a critical 4th and 1 play, Williams was able to alude tacklers again and score from 19-yards out to add insurance points.

Apprentice drove all the way into the red zone but their comeback hopes were dashed when Tyler Siddle (Pioneer) intercepted his second pass of the day in the end zone in the final minute of the contest.

Michael Roberts gave Apprentice a 7-0 lead on their first possession when he dove in from 1-yard out. Williams scored his first TD of the game three minutes later when he raced in from 68-yards.

The Builders scored on three of their next four possessions to grab a 27-6 lead with 6:32 remaining in the half. Roberts connected with Trevon Johnson on a nine-yard pass play, Joseph Hodge rushed in from 58 yards, and Roderick Staton lined up in the wildcat formation and raced in 66-yards to score.

In the closing minutes of the half, Alfred State answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jake Bahantka (Elmira/Thomas Edison) to Erik Simmons (Elmira Free) to make it 27-13.

Williams finished the day with 313 yards rushing and five scores on 27 carries. He eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season (1,092 yards through five games) and broke the school record for rushing yards in a career 2,109 (previous record was 1,880 yards by LeRoy Collins).

Bahantka, making his first collegiate start at QB, finished 11 for 25 for 148 yards. Simmons caught six passes for 78 yards and a score.

Hodge led the Builders 309 yard rushing attack with 187 yards and a score on 12 carries. Roberts was 10 for 22 for 170 yards on the day.

Danny Napolionello (Valley Stream) led the Pioneer defense with six tackles while Edward Harrell (Syracuse/West Genesee), Carl Williams (Rochester/Greece Olympia), and Nick DePofi (Union Endicott) all had five stops. Siddle picked off two passes while Williams and Bailey forced fumbles. The Pioneers were a +2 in the turnover battle.

Brandon Hampton led Apprentice with eight tackles and a fumble recovery while Ryan Ransom finished with seven stops.

The Builders outgained the Pioneers 481 to 467 but Alfred State held a 269 to 146 advantage in the 2nd half. Both teams were effective on the ground, Alfred State rushed for 319 yards while Apprentice rushed for 309.

In all four meetings in the series between the schools, the home team has earned the victory. The Pioneers and Builders will meet again in Newport News, VA on November 1st. 

Alfred State (1-4) is back in action in two weeks, October 18th, when they host Erie CC at 7 p.m.