ACFC Week 9 Summaries
October 27 scores
Wesley 20, Salisbury 13
Apprentice School 45, Southern Va. 14
Morrisville St. 20, SUNY Brockport 19
Westminster 34, Frostburg St. 30
November 3 game
SUNY Brockport at Apprentice School, 1 pm
WESLEY DEFEATS SALISBURY, EARN ACFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Dover, DE - - - Wesley senior defensive back, Chet Turner, intercepted Salisbury quarterback, Ronnie Curley, in the end zone to secure victory for the 10th ranked Wolverines (8-1, 4-0) over the 9th ranked Sea Gulls (8-1, 2-1) 20-13 in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The win has many implications for the Wolverines. First and foremost, the Wolverines secured their 3rd straight Atlantic Central Football Conference Championship. The Wolverines have won or shared the title six times since joining the football only conference. Nationally, Wesley earns some needed bonus points looking forward to the National playoff scene. The ACFC is without an automatic qualifier since it is a single sport conference formed after the NCAA ruling prohibiting single sport conferences from earning a bid. Without that AQ, Wesley must compete both regionally and nationally for three Pool B spots, and then a possible seven at-large bids in Pool C.
Statistically, the Sea Gulls out gained the Wolverines earning 285 yards on the ground and 116 through the air. The Sea Gulls rushing offense was ranked 2nd nationally with 356.8 yards per game. Despite giving up large chunks of yardage on the ground, the Wesley defense was able to tighten near their end zone forcing two Salisbury field goals.
The first quarter ended scoreless as both teams traded punts and field position four times. Wesley struck first in the second quarter when Colin Blugis nailed his first of two field goals. The 19-yard chip shot earned the lead for Wesley at 3-0 at 10:17 of the second quarter.
After trading two more punts, the Sea Gulls got a big play from running back Jamar Garner. Garner took the pitch from Curley around the left side, broke through two arm tackles and flew up the sidelines for an 80-yard score. Sea Gulls kicker, Brendan Kincaid added the extra point to take the 7-3 lead with 3:23 left in the first half.
The silence in the home crowd didn't last long as Wesley's Larry Beavers took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards for the touchdown. The kickoff return for a score is Beaver's third of the season. Blugis added the extra point and Wolverine Stadium was rocking again with a 10-7 advantage with 3:09 left in the half.
Salisbury regained possession with 17 seconds left in the half, but the Sea Gulls back up quarterback, Bobby Sheahin, was intercepted by Trae Swann at the Wesley 24 yard line to end the half to keep the 10-7 lead.
In the second half, Swann again troubled the Sea Gulls offense by intercepting another pass. Swann was able to haul in a double tipped pass by Salibury's Curley, his first of two interceptions on the day.
The Wolverines would make the most of the change in possession by driving to the Sea Gulls 45 yard line before Wesley quarterback, Jason Schatz, found Michael Clark open down the left sidelines. The picture perfect over-the-shoulder pass by Schatz was hauled in by Clark who then crossed the goal line giving Wesley a little wiggle room on the scoreboard. Blugis added another extra point extending Wesley's lead to 17-7 at 6:33 of the third quarter.
Not to be denied, the Sea Gulls used a big play by Curley to almost span the length of the field. Curley ran the option perfectly to his right and found a seam dashing 68 yards to the Wesley 15 yard line. However, the Wesley defense stiffened forcing a Kincaid field goal from 26 yards out to make it a one score game at 17-10.
Two possessions later in the fourth quarter, Wesley started with good field position at the Sea Gulls 39 yard line. But and incomplete pass to Clarke forced a field goal attempt by Blugis. The 40-yard attempt just barely cleared the crossbar giving the first year kicker his longest of his career and extended the Wesley lead to 20-10 with 13:02 left in the game.
Down by two scores, Salisbury inserted back up quarterback Sheahin to help their passing offense. Sheahin completed one pass, then scrambled for a 5-yard gain but was injured going out of bounds. Curley was reinserted into the offense and drove the Sea Gulls down to the Wesley 14 yard line. Wesley's defense again stiffened and forced another Kincaid field goal, this one of 31 yards bringing the game back to a one possession situation.
Wesley had two more possessions late in the fourth quarter, but were unable to get points to secure a victory. With 1:02 left in the game, Wesley was forced to punt to the waiting Sea Gulls. Salisbury gained possession at the Wesley 42 yard line to start a possible game tying (or winning) drive in the final minute. Curley completed his first pass for 18 yard to Valdese Morris down to the Wesley 23 yard line. But two plays later, Curley's jump ball into the end zone was picked by Chet Turner with 7 seconds left on the clock. An alert Turner ran around the end zone to run out the remaining time and secure the big Route 13 victory.
Offensively for the Wolverines, running back Mike Pennewell rushed 28 times for 105 yards. Pennewell has rushed for more than 100 yards for seven consecutive games this season. Quarterback Jason Schatz was only 7 of 21, for 94 yards, but his touchdown pass to Clarke proved to be the difference in the game.
Defensively, the Wolverines were led by linebacker Sean Matthews, who earned 14 tackles, seven solo, against Salisbury's option running attack. Linebacker Josh Jones and defensive end Bryan Robinson each earned eight tackles. Robinson also added a 12-yard sack on Curley. The Wesley defense forced four Sea Gull turnovers, three INT's and one fumble.
Wesley and Salisbury both get a bye week. Wesley returns to action on November 10th, as they travel to Morrisville State (2-6) who defeated Brockport State today.
FROSTBURG STATE SCORES SEASON HIGH
BUT FALLS TO WESTMINSTER, 34-30
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Despite its best offensive output of the
season, the Frostburg State football team couldn't rally past
Westminster as it lost 34-30, Saturday afternoon.
FSU (2-6) passed for a season high 130 yards and scored a season
high in points but a crucial fumble inside the Titan 30-yard line,
with Frostburg State trailing 34-30 early in the fourth quarter,
hurt the Bobcats chances for a comeback victory.
The offenses for both teams exploded in the first half as the two
squads combined for seven touchdowns, 442 yards of total offense
and 29 first downs. WC found the endzone on all four possessions
while FSU scored on its first three. The Bobcats fourth possession
was haulted only by the halftime horn. Both teams scored a
touchdown in the second half and FSU's Nathan Menhorn (Berlin,
Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) booted a 32-yard field goal.
Westminster and Frostburg State each punted just twice in the
game and each team turned the ball over just once.
Senior quarterback Andre Dixon (Washington, D.C./Roosevelt) threw
for a season high 130 yards on 14-of-27 pass attempts and two
touchdowns. Titan signal caller Kevin Frantz was 19-for-23 for 248
yards and three scores including an interception that was returned
for six points.
Nick McKolosky scored from four yards out on WC's opening drive
that lasted 10-plays and 75 yards for a 7-0 lead. After a short
kickoff and a nice return by FSU's Deshawn Lewis (Bowie,
Md./Largo), the Bobcats started their first drive at the
Westminster 48-yard line. Ten plays and 48 yards later, Dixon
connected with sophomore Jared McCormick (Berlin, Pa./Berlin
Brothers Valley) for an 11-yard touchdown with 5:50 left in the
opening quarter to knot the score at 7-7.
McKolosky answered for the Titans catching a 15-yard scoring strike
from Franz with less than a minute left in the opening quarter.
This time, the Titans marched 61 yards in nine plays.
The Bobcats then put together the half's longest drive in terms of
time as FSU used 6:06 and covered 57 yards in 14 plays to tie the
game at 14 a piece. Dixon capped the drive by finding freshman
Chris Potter (Denton, Md./North Caroline) for a 19-yard touchdown
toss.
Midway through the second quarter, Brett Ziegler hauled in a
36-yard touchdown pass from Frantz as the Titans again moved ahead,
21-14. FSU had a chance to tie the game again after Dixon scored
from a yard out but Menhorn's extra point was blocked and the
Bobcats trailed 21-20. The drive, 10 plays and 73 yards, was the
longest of the game for the Bobcats.
Jacob Shaffer stamped the first half scoring extravaganza with a
one-yard scoring run after a 55-yard eight-play drive used 2:46
late in the second quarter. The Titans held a 27-20 lead at the
break after the extra point on their final touchdown was
unsuccessful.
Menhorn's 32-yard field goal narrowed the gap for the Bobcats to
27-23 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Frostburg State's
drive lasted 8:16 on 17 plays and 58 yards and was helped as WC
gave FSU to first downs via penalty. The Bobcats faced a third and
two and a third and four but offsides and pass interference calls
kept the drive going for FSU.
Ziegler scored his second touchdown of the game with 3:32 left in
the third, hauling in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Frantz to put
WC up 34-23. Early in the fourth, freshman Derek Saunders (Laurel,
Md./Palotti) stepped in front of a Frantz pass and raced 52 yards
for a score as FSU trailed 34-30.
After forcing Westminster to a three and out, FSU appeared to be
putting together the go ahead drive moving 43 yards on four plays
down to the Titan 29-yard line. However, a Bobcat fumble gave the
ball and the momentum back to WC. Neither team scored from there on
as the Titans escaped with the win.
Senior Jim Robertson (Sussex, NJ/High Point) continued his
stellar play leading the Bobcats with eight tackles while
classmates Johan Owens (Baltimore, Md./City College) and Najier
Frazer (Bowie, MD/Duval) each made seven stops.
FSU has a bye next weekend but returns to action in two weeks at
the Ninth Annual Regents' Cup Game in Annapolis, Md. against
Salisbury at 2:00 pm.
ARNOLD'S RECORD-SETTING DAY LIFTS BUILDERS OVER SO. VIRGINIA
AMHERST, VA. - Sophomore Sam Arnold set school and Atlantic Central Football Conference record with 43 carries and ran for an Apprentice School record 249 yards and one touchdown as Apprentice School defeated Southern Virginia University 45-14 at Amherst County High School.
The Builders held the Knights on its first drive and proceeded to cap off a 56-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal from Matt Edelen for a 3-0 lead with 7:33 left.
That score held through the first quarter and midway through the second when senior quarterback Kyle Franklin found his favorite target in senior Travis Reid on a 30-yard scoring strike to finish an 80-yard, 10-play scoring drive. Those two connected again on a 35-yard strike when he caught the ball in the middle of two defenders with 22 seconds left to put Apprentice ahead 19-0.
Arnold was the workhorse of the day setting an ACFC record with his 43 carries breaking the old mark of 39. The 43 carries also broke the Apprentice School record held by Thurm Gibson of 41 set in 1985 against Bridgewater. His 249 yards broke Gibson's school record of 232 yards also in the 1985 Bridgewater game. The 249 yards, on top of his 202 last week against Maritime, make him the first running back in Apprentice history to run for over 200 yards in consecutive games.
In the second half the Builders opened the scoring again with an Edelen field goal, this time from 22 yards to mark the first game a Builder kicker has made two field goals in a game since 1989. The Knights answered with the first of two Hayes Page touchdown runs, this time from eight yards out to cut the lead to 19-7 with 7:43 left.
Any Knight hopes were dashed as the Builders used a bruising running game to score three touchdowns over the next 13 minutes. J'Michael Swain plunged in from the two to go ahead 25-7, then the Franklin to Reid show struck again on a 10-yard slant pass where he caught the ball over three defenders to go ahead 31-7 with 7:04 left in the game.
The defense then jumped into the scoring mix as freshman DaMario Sampson picked up a fumble and returned it 55 yards to go ahead 38-7 with 6:44 remaining.
Arnold joined the scoring mix as the Builders forced another Knight turnover on the SVU 44 and he broke his records during the ensuing drive which he capped off with a six-yard run.
"The defense played outstanding against a lightning fast offense of SVU and our offensive line really controlled the tempo letting Sammy break loose," said Apprentice School coach Phil Janaro. "It was a great win for us."
Reid caught six passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns. Those three scores raised his single season total to 10 which broke the record he held with three other receivers at eight touchdown receptions. He now has caught 56 passes for 806 yards this year. Franako Smith and Jeremy Smith each recorded a team-high six tackles to lead the defense. Franklin was 11-of-20 for 145 yards and no interceptions, which raises his streak of passes without an interception to 167. Once again the Builders did not turn the ball over marking the sixth time in eight games they have done that.
Apprentice School (4-4) now returns home to face ACFC rival SUNY Brockport on Saturday at 1 pm.
GOLDEN EAGLES MISS WIDE RIGHT IN 20-19 LOSS
Matt McCormick ran for 173 yards, but Morrisville wins 20-19
Senior running back Matt McCormick (Peru, NY/Peru) ran for a game-high 173 yards and scored two third quarter touchdowns but it wasn't enough as the SUNY Brockport Football team dropped a 20-19 decision to Morrisville State College on an extremely muddy field at Drake Field in Morrisville, NY.
The Golden Eagles (3-5 overall) scored a touchdown on a Gary Bohl ( Slingerlands , NY /Guilderland) one-yard run cutting the Mustangs lead to 20-19 with 43 seconds remaining the fourth quarter. After a Morrisville time-out, freshman kicker Troy Dehm (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) missed the extra-point wide right off the muddy surface that would have tied the game. Dehm missed two extra-points on the day and his onside kick flew out-of-bounds giving the Mustangs the ball to end the game.
The Mustangs (2-6 overall) won the opening toss and elected to receive and on the kick-off, the Morrisville kick-returner fumbled the ball and the Golden Eagles recovered in Morrisville territory. The Brockport offense could not put together anything and could not convert on a fourth and ten turning the ball back over to the Mustangs.
After both teams had consecutive punts, Morrisville strung together a 14 play, 75-yard drive taking seven minutes capped off by a William Carter one-yard touchdown run giving the Mustangs a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was missed.
In the second quarter, the Golden Eagles had opportunities for the equalizer after a Morrisville fumble at their own 21-yard line, but the Brockport offense sputtered and could not convert a fourth down and turned the ball over to the Mustangs. After a Morrisville drive deep into Brockport territory, the secondary stepped up when Cevon Carver intercepted a pass at the Brockport eight-yard line. The Golden Eagles drove back into Morrisville territory but could not get into the endzone and was forced to punt ending the first half.
In the second half, Brockport took the kick-off and with McCormick at quarterback, drove seven plays for 63 yards in just over three minutes for the go-ahead touchdown and extra-point when McCormick scored on a seven-yard run. With the Dehm extra-point, Brockport led 7-6. After a three-and-out for the Mustangs, the Golden Eagles took over and put together another long drive, resulting in McCormick's second touchdown of the day on a 10-yard run capping off an 11-play, 75 yard drive giving Brockport a 13-6 lead. The extra point was missed. On a 3rd and 15, McCormick busted off a 48-yard run up the sideline keeping the drive going. A few plays later, with Jake DerCola (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) at quarterback, he found wide receiver Matt Newman ( Unadilla , NY /Unatego) for a key fourth and five conversion extending the drive.
The Mustangs responded with a 13-play, 60 yard drive spanning seven minutes to tie the score. The drive was aided by two pass interference calls on the Golden Eagle defense giving Morrisville two automatic first-downs.
With the game tied at 13-13 in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles were forced to punt deep in their own territory. The snap was high to punter Tim Beairsto ( Brockport , NY /Brockport) and when he jumped to catch it, he fell at his own one-yard line turning the ball over to the Mustangs. Two plays later, quarterback Billy Poling scored the go-ahead score giving the Mustangs a 20-13 lead with nine minutes to play.
After a possession for both teams, the Golden Eagles took over at midfield with 2:44 left in the game. A 22-yard pass completion from DerCola to wide receiver Mike Smith (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) on a 3rd and 10 gave Brockport the ball at the Morrisville 15-yard line with two minutes remaining. After a few rushes, Bohl found the endzone cutting the lead to 20-19 with 43 seconds left. The tying extra-point was wide right. The onside-kick attempt flew out-of-bounds and Morrisville took over ending the game with a 20-19 victory.
Offensively, McCormick led all rushers with 173 yards and two touchdowns, while Garet Lynch ( Valley Stream , NY / Springfield Gardens) finished with 55 yards on 15 carries.
Defensively, senior Dale Buck (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama) made 12 stops, including two for loss and a sack to lead the Golden Eagles. Linebacker Jarrett Woodfork ( Syracuse , NY /Bishop Ludden) finished with 10 tackles for Brockport.
