Builders visit "Big Apple" for Mariners Classic

Apprentice School vs. Maritime College

October 20, 2007

Throggs Neck, NY - Noon

Builders visit Maritime College for second Mariners Classic

The Apprentice School visits the "Big Apple" to face Maritime College in the second annual Mariners Classic.  This game pits two schools heavily into the maritime industry with a school that builds ships (Apprentice School) against a school that drives ships (Maritime College).  Last year's matchup saw the Builders take a 41-0 victory in front of nearly 3,900.  Apprentice School comes in after losing 50-7 to 10^th-ranked Wesley College on Saturday, while Maritime lost 63-7 at Husson.  Senior WR Travis Reid broke the school, modern-era career reception record with his six catches for 64 yards.  Those six bring him to 140 for his career breaking the record of Andre Ross (138) and is 146 yards from his career record of 2,544. ... He also needs five touchdowns to break the most touchdowns scored and most points scored records. ... The Builders will face a running attack that is ranked 19^th in NCAA Division III averaging 252 yards per game. ... Maritime RB Benjamin Swedish is ranked 42^nd in NCAA D-III averaging 101 yards per game to lead the attack.  The Privateers have lost five in a row, with the last two by a combined 117-20.

Touchdown Travis

Senior Travis Reid now is two-thirds of the way to earning all of the receiving records in Apprentice School history.  He broke the career reception record against Wesley with his six receptions to raise his total to 140.  Reid had broken the touchdown record in week 2 against Frostburg State and now has 24 for his career.  He broke the TD record and receptions record of Andre Ross (1991-94).  Ross holds the career reception yards mark of 2,544 and Reid is 146 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.  He also became the second receiver in the last 25 years to have over 2,000 yards in receptions after his performance against Emory & Henry.

Reid's Top 5 games in yards

• 1. 178 yards (8 receptions) vs. N.C. Wesleyan, 9/2/06
• 2. 168 (7) vs. Salisbury, 9/29/07
• 3. 163 (5) v. Southern Va., 10/29/05 and vs. Morrisville State (10), 10/6/07
• 5. 127 (6) v. Southern Va., 10/28/06

Franklin factors

Senior Kyle Franklin through the first six games is just ahead of his career completion percentage at 51.9% (68-of-131).  In his career he is third in completion percentage in school (modern-era) history at 51.3%.  Franklin is tied for second in career touchdown passes with 24 and he's tied with Terrance Patrick who threw 24 from 1999-2002.  Franklin is currently fourth in the modern era in career passing yards with 2,603.

Franklin's Top 5 games in yards

• 1. 213 vs. N.C. Wesleyan, 9/2/06
• 2. 199 vs. Morrisville State, 10/6/07
• 3. 196 vs. Salisbury, 9/29/07
• 4. 191 vs. Wesley, 10/14/06
• 5. 172 vs. Chowan, 11/11/06

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 blocked his way into the 2007 season with a punt block in each of the first three games.  His block against Frostburg was returned by Lawrence Frost for the game-clinching touchdown, while his block against Emory & Henry was returned by Joe Bruce for the final score.  Scott now has 11 for his career which is a school record.

Pickoffs

Approaching the final four games of their senior seasons, Tony Scott and Franako Smith are battling for the career interception record.  Scott garnered his 11^th pick in the home victory over Frostburg State on September 8 to take the record.  Smith answered with his 11^th pick at Emory & Henry on September 22.

In the 50-21 victory over Morrisville State on October 6, Smith took the lead with his two-interception performance raising his total now to 13.

Mariner's Classic

Saturday's football game between The Apprentice School and Maritime College is the second annual Mariner's Classic between two institutions rich in maritime heritage.   

The Mariner's trophy is symbolic of the toughness and dedication required of football players, shipbuilders and seamen. The trophy is intended to represent both schools' unique but similar missions. It was designed by highly-skilled craftsmen Larry Lambroff, Chris Collins and Kenny Hill of Northrop Grumman Newport News' Pattern Shop.

The propeller in the center was originally designed and casted 36 years ago by then apprentice Larry Lambroff as a symbol of nautical activity. The design was to create an old, worn, ships propeller with the face of a tough, old, seaman (Old Salty) in the center. It was intended to look like it had been at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years, filled with barnacles, and water worn holes.

Saturday's winner will retain the trophy until Oct. of 2008, when the two team's next meet, this time in Newport News, Va.

The Newport News Apprentice School is part of Northrop Grumman Newport News, the only shipyard in the nation capable of designing, building, overhauling and repairing the entire range of naval surface ships and submarines, as well as commercial ships. The school through its required academic curriculum and on-the-job training, prepares students for careers in the shipbuilding industry.

            Maritime College ~ State University of New York, located in Throggs Neck, NY, is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Skyline Conference. Currently Maritime sponsors 20 Varsity programs, 11 Men's and 9 Women's, and has an enrollment of 1100.

For PDF version