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Builders Block Way To 37-14 Oyster Bowl Win Over SVU
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - Sophomore Bryan Cain blocked three Southern Virginia University punts in the first half, two of those resulting in touchdowns for The Apprentice School as the Builders defeated the Knights 37-14 in the 59th annual Oyster Bowl.
Cain, a sophomore from Baker, La., earned Oyster Bowl MVP honors for his school-record tying three blocked kicks in one game.
The defense struck first for the Builders on the second play of the game as senior Robert Hannah stepped in front of a Luke Taylor pass and returned the interception 31 yards for the first touchdown just 45 seconds into the contest.
Cain struck first on SVU's next series blocking a punt to give the Builders possession at the Knight 39. That was the only punt block that didn't result in a touchdown.
After holding the Builders, the Knights were pinned on their own three-yard line after a Phil Caralla punt was downed. Apprentice School's defense stiffened and Cain struck again blocking a punt into the end zone where Daniel Richmond fell on it for a 13-0 Apprentice School lead with 8:03 left in the first quarter.
The defense struck again for the Builders as on SVU's next play, Taylor was stripped of the ball by senior Edgar McKinney and freshman Jovan McCamey recovered on the Knight 25. Three plays later, Caralla connected with freshman Jusdon McKee on a 21-yard scoring pass. Caralla hit senior Markim Gordon on the 2-point conversion to give the Builders a 21-0 lead with 6:08 left in the first.
SVU turned the ball over on a punt return which gave the Builders possession on the Knight 25 and Caralla found Gordon on a 15-yard scoring strike with 1:17 left in the first quarter to give the hosts a 28-0 lead.
Cain struck again in the second quarter as he blocked his third kick giving the Builders great field position on the Knight 16. Caralla and Gordon connected again, this time on a 13-yard scoring pass to give the Builders a 34-0 lead with 12:42 left in the half.
Junior Matt Edelen connected on an 18-yard field goal with 4:15 left in the half to give the Builders a 37-0 advantage at the break.
SVU recorded a touchdown with six seconds left in the third as Harry Collins capped a six-play, 69-yard drive with an eight-yard run. They found the end zone again in the fourth quarter as Taylor connected with Brett Petty on a 38-yard scoring pass with 4:05 left.
Caralla was 10-of-13 passing for 57 yards in very sloppy conditions. Freshman Kieron Paulin was the leading rusher with 86 yards on 28 carries for the Builders. Apprentice School's defense was tremendous holding the Knights to 70 yards, including a net minus 17 yards rushing. McKinney was the leading tackler for the Builders with six, followed by fellow seniors Kenneth Pittman, Walt Stanford and freshman Brandon Boston with five apiece. The defense sacked SVU quarterbacks eight times which is the second most in a single game in the modern era of Apprentice School football.
