Box Score Emory, VA – For the 2nd straight week, the Apprentice Football Team hit the road and traveled due west. This weekend, saw the Builders roll into Emory, VA to take on the Wasps of Emory & Henry College. The Wasp are members of the ODAC and beginning their transition to the NCAA Division II level. However, that transition was the furthest thing from both teams' minds on Saturday afternoon, as Emory & Henry looked to bounce back from a 1-point loss last week and Apprentice hoped to capitalize on the momentum they created from last week's OT win.
To begin the game, both defenses shut the offenses down, not allowing either to move the ball down the field. With that strong defensive play, the Builders' Au'hki Harris jumped in front of a pass and returned it to the endzone to give Apprentice the early 7-0 lead. The Wasps would answer that score with a 61-yard TD pass, tying the game at 7-7. That score was the first of 35 straight points Emory & Henry would put on the board. Unfortunately, the Builders were unable to answer on offense and as the teams went to the locker room for halftime, Apprentice found themselves trailing the Wasps 35-7.
Emory & Henry started the 2nd half with the ball and drove it down the field, adding to its lead, 42-7. However, the Builders defense started to settle down and slow the Wasps' offense, while QB Mason Tatum was able to move the Apprentice offense down the field. However, the drive would stall, and a Jeremiah Morgan 44-yard FG attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 42-7. The defense would stop Emory & Henry again, giving Tatum and the offense the ball back, but they were unable to get anything going down the field. The Wasps were able to find the endzone a few more times and the game would end with Emory & Henry defeating Apprentice by a score of 63-7.
Nick Pierce led the Builders with 5 receptions, with a long of 26-yards, while Xavien "Buck" Hunter and Au'hki Harris each had an interception. It was Hunter's 2nd of the season and Harris returned his for the only Apprentice score of the game. Paul Massey, Jr. continued to be the anchor on defensive, recording a total of 7 tackles on the day.
The Builders will look to regroup and will be back in action next Saturday, September 25th as they travel to Ferrum College for a 1:00pm kick-off. For more recaps of this game watch Apprentice Football Coach's Corner with Head Coach Vincent Brown on Apprentice social media.
