At a glance
Sir Aaron Taylor (West Chester/Lincoln Hall) returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86-yards for a score to break a 7-7 tie and lead Alfred State to a 22-7 victory over the Apprentice School (Newport News, VA) in their 2010 season opener.
Sir Aaron Taylor (West Chester/Lincoln Hall) returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86-yards for a score to break a 7-7 tie and lead Alfred State to a 22-7 victory over the Apprentice School (Newport News, VA) in their 2010 season opener.
The Builders got on the board first with 3:29 remaining in the first when Johnathan Jones returned a fumble 30 yards.
Cody Scepaniak (Vestal/Vestal) tied the game up early in the 2nd quarter (14:03) when he scampered in from eight yards out to cap a eight play, 35-yard drive.
Neither the Pioneers or the Builders could get much offense going but ASC took advantage of great field position due to a 77-yard punt by Colter Johnson (Warren, PA) that pinned Apprentice back on their own 1 yard line with 5:27 remaining in the contest.
On the next play, Emmanuel Wells (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) and the defensive line tackled the Builder rusher in the endzone for the safety to give Alfred State a 16-7 lead.
Markese Pullium (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) put the game out of reach with 2:47 remaining when he returned an interception 35-yards for the score.
Scepaniak finished 11 for 27 for 117 yards in his first start for the Pioneers. Josh Griffin (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrrow) led the receiving core with six catches for 78 yards while Rory Spain (Tully/Tully Central) led the offense with 56 yards rushing on one carry. ASC was held to just 134 total yards (17 rushing and 117 passing)
Bryan Shahlamian finished 14 for 32 for 208 yards for Apprentice. Donzell Shearin caught four passes for 83 yards while Bryan Cain had five catches for 60 yards. The Builders accumulated 229 yards on the day (21 rushing and 208 passing).
Nick DePofi (Endicott/Union Endicott) led the defense with seven tackles while TC Carroll (Bath/Bath Haverling) added six. Taylor added five solo tackles, an interception, and three pass break-ups. Damion King Jr. (Detroit, MI/Madison Heights) picked off a pass in the first half.
Jones led Apprentice with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks while Mana Ohia added eight tackles.
The blue & gold return to action next Sunday when they take on Hartwick JV. Opening kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Oneonta.