Box Score
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - Nationally-ranked Salisbury University
scored 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from
a pesky Apprentice School squad for a 48-17 Atlantic Central
Football Conference victory at Apprentice Field.
After a sluggish first quarter that saw neither team gain more
than 70 yards in offense, the Builders cracked the scoreboard first
as junior Sam Arnold pushed his way in from the one to end a
nine-play, 35-yard drive. Junior Matt Edelen's conversion
kick put the Builders up 7-0 with 13:02 left in the half.
The Sea Gulls, ranked 17th nationally by
D3football.com and 23rd by the American Football Coaches
Association, cranked up their running game as Shelby Fisher
barreled his way from the five for their first touchdown with 5:21
left in the half to tie the game at 7-all.
Salisbury's special teams forced a fumbled punt attempt and
recovered on the builders' 21-yardline on the next series.
Ronnie Curley ended that scoring drive with a five-yard run giving
the Sea Gulls a 14-7 lead with 1:57 left.
In the third quarter, both teams came out firing offensively
each scoring within a 48 second span. The Sea Gulls used a
Randal Smedley four-yard run to score on their first possession for
a 21-7 lead.
Apprentice School answered quickly as on second down, Phil
Caralla found Markim Gordon on a slant pattern and he took it 39
yards for a touchdown to chop the deficit to 21-14 with 12:46
left. Edelen ended a 53 yard drive with a 25-yard field goal
with 3:36 left in the third to bring the Builders to 21-17.
In the fourth quarter, the Sea Gulls erupted for 27 straight
points. The backbreakers came in a 14 second span as Smedley
scored on a five-yard run with 13:30 left. Apprentice
freshman Mana Ohia blocked the extra-point attempt to put the lead
at 27-17. On the first play for the Builders, Caralla's pass
was picked off by Matthew Bookard who returned it 24 yards to give
the visitors a 34-17 advantage.
They closed out the scoring with a 26-yard touchdown pass from
Bobby Sheahin to Curley and Nick Coates on a 14-yard run with 3:08
left.
Salisbury outgained the Builders 360-229 in total offense, with
the majority of the difference being the decisive fourth quarter as
they outgained the hosts 164-42. Smedley was the leading
rusher for the Sea Gulls with 60 yards as five Salisbury backs
gained 25 or more yards in the contest.
Apprentice School was paced rushing by Arnold with 35 yards,
while Caralla threw for 182 and averaged just under 40 yards
punting. Out of his 15 completions, sophomore Teo Ellis
caught five for 41 yards and Gordon added four for 78.
"Defensively we played our hearts out for 60 minutes," said
Apprentice School Head Coach Michael Vite. "I told the team
that we play with that intensity we will do ok in our last five
games. We are learning to play the right way."
Next up for the Builders will be their longest trip of the
season as they head to Painesville, Ohio and face Division II Lake
Erie College in a 1 pm kickoff next Saturday.
