Game Notes vs. Frostburg State

Apprentice School Football - 2007

Apprentice School vs. Frostburg State University

September 8, 2007

Apprentice Field -- 1 p.m.

Coaches: Apprentice School, Phil Janaro, 8 years 36-42

Frostburg State, Rubin Stevenson, 8 years, 29-40

Builders open 2007 ACFC Season with Frostburg State

Today's homecoming game will be the kickoff to the 2007 ACFC season with a matchup against Frostburg State University.

            Last year saw the Builders defeat Frostburg 20-10 as Kyle Franklin ran for one touchdown and threw for another.  The third score was a Thomas Moultrie 44-yard return of a blocked punt.

            The Builders will take next week off (Sept. 15) and return to action with their first road game of the season at Emory & Henry College on September 22.

Touchdown Travis

Senior Travis Reid is approaching a number of modern era (1985-present) career records in receptions for the Builders.  His next touchdown will give him the career record that he now shares with Andre Ross (1991-94) with 20.  Ross holds the career reception yards mark of 2,544 and Reid is 699 yards away from breaking that record.  Reid, a Goose Creek, SC native had 48 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns in 2006 when he was named first team All-ACFC.  He became the third Builder receiver in the last 25 years to have 100 or more receptions with his four receptions in the opener with Fairmont State.  Reid has 102 receptions for 1,887 yards in his career.

Franklin factors

Senior Kyle Franklin has completed 51% of his passes in his collegiate career (147-of-288) and is coming off a junior season where he was 106-of-184 for 1,344 yards and 12 touchdowns.  His 12 touchdown passes were the second most in the modern era only trailing Darren Graham in 1994 who threw for 18 touchdowns.  The 106 completions was the third highest total in a single season trailing only David Riddle in 1989 (110) and Graham in 1994 (111).

Builder Block Party

Last year the Builders special teams were truly special as they blocked six punts returning four of them for touchdowns and one for a safety.  Senior Tony Scott had three of those blocks and started 2007 off with another one in the scrimmage game against Guilford College.  Scott started the 2007 season with a blocked punt against Fairmont State.

D-fence D-fence

The Builders defense was one of several factors in the season-ending four-game winning streak including three by shutout.  Apprentice School topped the ACFC in total defense last year allowing 241.7 yards per game and in scoring defense allowing 14.3 points per game for their lowest averages in 22 years.  The three shutouts were the most in a single season since 1988.  In the last five games, only Fairmont State has rushed for over 100 yards.

Kinder ACFC Rookie of the Week

Freshman Mike Kinder was named ACFC Rookie of the Week following the Fairmont State game on Sept. 1.  The Panesville, Ohio native had seven tackles with 2.5 coming for a loss as the Builders fell 3-0 to the Division II Falcons.

Last year

Builders Knock Off Frostburg State 20-10;

 Earns First ACFC Road Win Ever
September 9, 2006

FROSTBURG, MD. - Junior Kyle Franklin ran for a touchdown and threw for another as the Apprentice School won its first Atlantic Central Football Conference game of the year defeating Frostburg State University 20-10 at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday night.

Apprentice School (2-0, 1-0) scored first on its second possession after a bad snap on Frostburg State's punt forced an 11-yard punt to the Bobcat 30. On fourth down from the Bobcat 15, Franklin floated a pass to the back corner of the end zone and found Lawrence Frost for the first score. Matthew Edelen's extra-point attempt was good for a 7-0 Apprentice School lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter.

Special teams came through again this week as Thomas Moultrie blocked a punt on the Frostburg 44 and returned it for the second touchdown with five minutes left in the half for an Apprentice School 14-0 lead. This is the second straight week the Builders have blocked a punt resulting in a score.

"Our special teams turned the tide again," said Apprentice School coach Phil Janaro. "For the second straight week we blocked a kick that resulted in a score which helped get us going."

Also igniting the Builders on offense was freshman Sam Arnold. The Tampa, Fla. native ran for 62 yards on 10 carries as he was the leading rusher for the Builders tonight.

"Our ‘keg of dynamite' got his feet wet in conference play tonight and showed many good things to come," said Janaro.

The Builders started the third quarter by forcing a fumble as Frostburg went 58 yards down to the Apprentice School three. Shanorm Young was stripped of the ball and Joshua King recovered on the two. Frostburg State (0-1, 0-1) returned the favor by stopping Bruce Freeman on the next play for a safety and a 14-2 score with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

"I cannot say enough good things about the defense, we bent but didn't break and made plays," Janaro said. "To beat a team like Frostburg State that returned nine offensive starters and 16 overall from a post-season team in '05 says a lot for these guys and I am so happy for them."

Apprentice School went on a 10-play, 71-yard drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and nearly 2:30 of the fourth. Franklin capped the drive as he barreled his way from the one. The extra-point attempt was blocked as the Builders held a 20-2 lead with 12:39 left in the game.

Frostburg State answered with a nine-play, 65-yard drive with Young scooting in from the four with 9:28 left in the game. Quarterback Andre Dixon found Fred Howze on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 20-10.

The Bobcats had one last chance after holding the Builders on a fourth-and nine with 52 seconds left. Sophomore Jeremy Smith ended the threat as he sacked Dixon for a 10-yard loss on the last play of the game.

Apprentice School now has a week off prior to its first home game of the season as they take on Emory & Henry College for homecoming on September 23.

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