Lakers Hold Off TVCCC 21-14

ELLENWOOD, Ga. – The Clayton State Lakers earned a hard-fought 21-14 victory over Tennessee Valley Community Christian College in a game that remained competitive from start to finish. The matchup was as even as the final score indicated, with the Lakers holding only a slight edge in total offense, 335 yards to 318 yards. Ultimately, the difference came down to one key play, and the Lakers made it when it mattered most.

The Lakers struck first in the opening quarter when quarterback Jeremiah Mallory connected with wide receiver Danirion Moxey on a 62-yard touchdown pass, giving Clayton State an early 7-0 advantage. Tennessee Valley responded with an impressive 70-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Jah Williams, tying the game at 7-7.

Just before halftime, the Lakers regained momentum. Mallory engineered a late scoring drive and found wide receiver Clint Rafe for a 4-yard touchdown pass, sending Clayton State into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.

The Defenders answered again in the third quarter. Quarterback Johnny Jackson connected with wide receiver Noah Thompson on a 55-yard touchdown strike, knotting the game at 14-14 and setting up a tense fourth quarter.

With the game hanging in the balance, the Lakers delivered the decisive play. Early in the fourth quarter, Mallory found wide receiver Savion West behind the defense for a 58-yard touchdown pass. The explosive scoring play proved to be the game-winner as the Lakers defense held strong the rest of the way to secure the 21-14 victory.

Offensively, Clayton State was led by quarterback Jeremiah Mallory, who completed 19 of 35 passes for 285 yards and three touchdown passes while adding 31 rushing yards on the ground. Defensively, linebacker Ashton Parker paced the Lakers with nine tackles and was a key contributor in limiting the Defenders’ offense during crucial moments.

Story and photo courtesy Clayton State Football

Builders Blank Coppin State 58-0 on Senior Day

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A day that began with a celebration of the program’s four seniors, Logan Eastman, Alvin Hicks Jr., Austin Moore and Emmanuel Patterson, ended with the Builders celebrating a 58-0 victory over Coppin State University and the New South Athletic Conference North Division title.

The Builders scored early and often, tallying 35 points in the first half. They finished with 430 total yards to Coppin State’s 119 and went 7-for-7 in the red zone.

Quarterback Patrick Chewning was efficient in the first half, completing 6 of 9 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He hit Ryan McLister for a 9-yard score, then Isaiah Townsend for a 13-yard score at the end of an 85-yard drive that took just 51 seconds. Malachi Madden caught three passes for 60 yards, including a 49-yarder that set up that touchdown. McLister led the Builders with five catches for 57 yards.

On the ground, Builders runners totaled 291 net yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Tali Burgess led the way with 103 yards on nine carries, including a 43-yard run and a 2-yard touchdown. Shykem Chisolm added a 28-yard touchdown run, and Trevon Griffin, Malachi Mitchell and Bradley Hebb each found the end zone. Senior Logan Eastman converted all seven extra-point attempts and added a 26-yard field goal.

The Builders defense posted the shutout while sacking Coppin State seven times for 47 yards. Leslie Hines led the group with 2.5 sacks and eight tackles. Breiden Lowery added eight tackles, a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Tanner Cook scooped up that fumble in the end zone for a touchdown just before halftime.

Coppin State converted only 1 of 13 third downs and went 0 for 6 on fourth down. Its offense managed 2.1 yards per play and 8 first downs, compared to 25 for the Builders. The Builders also controlled the clock, holding the ball for 33:32.

The Apprentice School Builders end the regular season 7-3 overall and 4-0 in NSAC play. The opponent for the Builders will not be decided until next weekend to see who Apprentice will play for the New South Athletic Conference title on Nov. 21 in Ellenwood, Georgia.

Story courtesy Jacob Mullins/Apprentice Athletics; photo courtesy DeMetri Washington @pixxbydk

Gordon State Outlasts Westgate Christian 49-42 in NSAC Shootout

HOUSTON, Tx. — Quarterback Malachi Evans accounted for six touchdowns and 395 yards of total offense Saturday as Gordon State outlasted Westgate Christian University 49-42 in a high-scoring New South Athletic Conference football matchup.

Evans delivered an outstanding performance through the air, completing 18 of 22 passes for 350 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed six times for 45 yards and another score, accounting for six of Gordon State’s seven touchdowns.

The Highlander’s receiving corps turned in an equally impressive performance, with three players surpassing 95 receiving yards.

KJ Green led the way with four receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. Jadon Rainey proved particularly effective in the red zone, catching three passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

Evans completed nearly 82% of his passes and averaged 19.4 yards per completion, highlighting Gordon State’s ability to generate explosive plays through the air. The offensive production proved necessary against a Westgate Christian squad that kept pace throughout the contest, scoring six touchdowns of its own.

The Highlander win sets up the South Division Championship when they host Lighthouse Christian on November 14.

Photo courtesy Gordon State Football

Apprentice Defense Dominates Clayton State for North Division Title

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School Builders delivered a dominant defensive performance and controlled the clock Saturday afternoon, defeating Clayton State 22-8 on Homecoming to clinch the New South Conference (NSAC) North Division title.

The Builders’ defense set the tone, holding the Lakers to 80 total yards and negative-36 yards rushing. The Builders sacked the Lakers eight times for 74 yards and stopped Clayton State on 13 of its 14 third-down attempts.

Linebacker Leslie Hines led the defense with 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Emmanuel Patterson added a sack and two tackles for loss, while Carter Sullivan recorded a sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hurries. Breiden Lowery, Cameron Bassani, and Tanner Cook also recorded sacks.

The secondary made its mark as well. Jerrell Burse intercepted a pass just before halftime to end a Clayton State drive, and Jabari Anderson sealed the victory with a late fourth-quarter interception.

Quarterback Patrick Chewning completed 10 of 15 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 50 yards, including a 46-yard run in the second quarter that set up his scoring pass to Ryan McLister. McLister’s 28-yard touchdown reception came with 43 seconds left in the first half and capped an eight-play, 91-yard drive that put the Builders ahead 15-0 at the break.

Tali Burgess led the ground game with 57 yards on 10 carries, an average of 5.7 yards per carry, including a 24-yard run to open the second half. Two plays later, on a flea flicker, Baker Green connected with Isaiah Townsend on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Townsend finished with four receptions for 31 yards. As a team, the Builders rushed for 171 yards.

Kicker Logan Eastman connected on field goals of 22 and 40 yards and made both of his extra-point attempts. He also recorded three touchbacks on five kickoffs, averaging 59.4 yards per kick.

The Builders will face Coppin State next Saturday before playing for the NSAC Football Championship on November 21 in Ellenwood, Georgia against either Gordon State or Lighthouse Christian.

Story courtesy Jacob Mullins/Apprentice Sports Information; photo courtesy Apprentice Sports Information

Westgate Rolls Past Lighthouse 54-14 in NSAC South Division Tilt

PEARL RIVER, La. — Westgate Christian dominated on both sides of the football Saturday, rolling to a 54-14 victory over Lighthouse Christian in New South Athletic Conference South Division action.

Quarterback Jared Guter completed 10 of 13 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score as the Ravens improved to 2-6.

Westgate jumped ahead 14-0 in the opening quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Zion Cornish and a 41-yard interception return for a score. The Ravens added 22 unanswered points in the second quarter to build a commanding 36-0 halftime advantage.

Malakhi Darby led Westgate’s ground attack with 115 yards on 12 carries, while Ja’yir Nelson caught five passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Cornish contributed two rushing touchdowns and a receiving score.

The Ravens’ defense was equally impressive, holding Lighthouse to 141 total yards and forcing three interceptions. Damion Phoenix recorded two interceptions, while Westgate limited the Makos to just 63 rushing yards.

Westgate finished with 366 yards of total offense, including 206 rushing yards, and converted seven of 11 third-down opportunities.

Lighthouse (3-4) scored both of its touchdowns in the fourth quarter after trailing 42-0 through three periods.

The victory avenged Westgate’s 35-28 double-overtime loss to Lighthouse last season and gave the Ravens an important conference victory, moving them to 1-1 in conference play with a home game against Gordon State coming up this Saturday in Houston. The Makos fall to 1-1 in the NSAC.

The contest was relocated to Pearl River after Hurricane Isaias damaged Lighthouse’s home athletic facilities.

Photo courtesy of Jaylen McDonald/Westgate Athletics