LANCASTER, Pa. - The Apprentice School football team dropped a nail biter on a rainy Saturday afternoon against Thaddeus Stevens, 24-21.

Apprentice turned the ball over five times in the game, four of which came on fumbles. Thaddeus Stevens did not commit a turnover in the contest.

"I thought we came out and fought," said head coach Vincent Brown. "With the weather conditions being what they were, we knew we needed to take care of the football. Unfortunately, we turned it over too much and it came back to bite us. Our defense played well after we made the adjustments, and we ran the ball really well, but the turnovers were the reason the game ended up like it did."

Thaddeus Stevens kicked a pair of field goals to open the game, taking advantage of Builder miscues. Apprentice got on the board early in the second quarter as Kamron Jackson rumbled in from seven yards out to give the Builders their first lead of the day.

The Builder defense stood strong, and eight minutes later, Mason Tatum went into the endzone untouched for a 6-yard touchdown to go up, 14-6, which would be the halftime score.

The Bulldogs dominated the third quarter, holding the Builders to just 12 plays and seven yards in the period. Thaddeus Stevens kicked a field goal on their first drive of the period and then scored on a quarterback sneak from three yards away to take a 15-14 lead headed to the fourth.

TSCT kicked a field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter and then reeled off a long touchdown run to go up, 24-14, but Apprentice fought back, scoring on an 11-play drive off a Tatum 1-yard run to cut the lead to three. The Builders had two chances late, but their drives ended in a turnover on downs and an interception that sealed the game.

Jackson ran for 114 yards on 20 carries to lead the Builder offense.

"Hats off to Thaddeus Stevens," said Brown. "They capitalized on our mistakes and played four quarters of football. Now we need to put this behind us quickly and bounce back for Monroe College next week."

Apprentice will look to get in the win column in their final road game of the year next week at Monroe College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.