Strong 2nd Half Lift Builders Past Pioneers

The Apprentice School scored 19 unanswered points in a seven minute stretch in the 2nd half to erase a 27-20 deficit en route to a 39-34 victory. The Pioneers are now 2-6 on the year.

The Pioneers and Builders traded touchdown drives in the 1st half. Jason Gordon (Uniondale) caught a 60-yard pass from Tavon Moore (Syracuse/Bishop Grimes) at 6:57 of the 1st quarter. Joseph Hodge answered right back with a 49-yard TD run 1:27 later to tie it up. Moore gave Alfred the lead back when he ran in from three-yard out with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

Deon Lavender connected with Stan Smith on a 50-yard pass play at 9:19 of the 2nd quarter to tie it up again. Jake Bahantka (Thomas Edison) connected with Josh Ashley (Brooklyn) on a 23-yard TD pass play with 6:29 to make it 20-14 (PAT was missed). Lavender connected with Alvin Goodwyn on a 4-yard pass play with 1:10 left in the half to send the game into the break knotted at 20-20 (PAT was missed).

Rasheed Williams (Swedesboro, NJ) rushed in from 42-yards out on the Pioneers first drive of the 2nd half to give Alfred their last lead of the game, 27-20.

Apprentice started their 19-0 run with 47 seconds left in the 3rd quarter when Lavender dove in from one yard out. With 12:20 remaining in the contest, Hodge caught a 35-yard TD pass from Lavender to give the Builders their first lead.  Less than three minutes later Roderick Staton made it 39-27 when he rushed in from 54-yards out.

Alfred made a comeback attempt in the final ten minutes of the contest. Williams dove in from 2-yards out to score for the 2nd time on the day to cut it to 39-34. The Pioneer defense held the Builders on their next possession but could not get anything going on their next chance. The Builders picked a first down on a 4th down play and were able to run the clock out to seal the victory.

Williams rushed for 202 yards on 37 carries to lead the Pioneers 407 yard offensive attack. With the 202 yards rushing he is now the all-time single season rushing leader with 1,440 yards breaking LeRoy Collin's former mark.

Bahantka finished 9 for 25 for 141 yards while Gordon caught three passes for 104 yards and a score. 

Lavender was 6 for 9 for 110 yards and three scores while Hodge rushed for 105 yards and a score on 17 carries.

Marlon Hernandez (Bronx/Evander Childs) and Nick DePofi (Union Endicott) each had 14 tackles for the Pioneer defense. Hernandez was credited with two tackles for a loss while DePofi had 2.5.

Nikko Patterson led the Builder (1-7) with eight tackles while Brandon Hampton and Ryan Ransom had seven each.

This was the fifth meeting between the two teams and each meeting the home team has won. Alfred holds the all-time series lead 3-2.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back next Saturday when they travel to Washington University in St. Louis to battle the Bears. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EST (6 p.m. CST).