CAYCE, S.C. – The Apprentice School football team turned a 22-10 halftime deficit into a statement win Saturday, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half to defeat S.C. Central Christian 31-22. The Builders improve to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in New South Athletic Conference North Division play.
Coming out of the half, the defense and special teams took over the game. The Builders outscored the Bearcats 21-0 over the final two quarters.
Two special teams plays flipped the momentum. Trailing 22-17 in the third quarter, the Builders got a spark from Malachi Madden, who fielded a punt at his own 14-yard line and raced 86 yards for a touchdown. The return gave Apprentice its first lead of the game, 24-22, with 7:47 left in the quarter. In the fourth, Chase Johnson blocked a S4C punt and returned it for a touchdown with 8:08 remaining, stretching the lead to 31-22. Baker Green also blocked a punt in the first quarter.
The Builders defense finished with seven sacks for 43 yards while holding the Gladiators scoreless over the final 30 minutes. Linebacker Leslie Hines led the way with a game-high 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Breiden Lowery added 11 tackles, a sack and two pass breakups, while Austin Moore recorded nine tackles, a half-sack and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery. Carter Sullivan added a sack as well.
The secondary came up big, too. David Pietrzak and Jabari Anderson each came down with an interception, and Anderson’s pick in the final two minutes ended a Central Christian drive. Jerrell Burse and Cash Curtis each broke up two passes. The defense saved its best for last. With the Bearcats driving to the Apprentice 3-yard line in the closing seconds, the Builders held on fourth-and-goal to seal the win.
On offense, the Builders were efficient in the red zone, scoring on three of four trips inside the 20. Alvin Hicks capped a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. In the third, Patrick Chewning connected with Kyle Musselman on an 8-yard touchdown pass to finish an 11-play, 59-yard drive, the longest of the day.
Trevon Griffin averaged 10.2 yards per carry, finishing with 51 rushing yards that included a 31-yard run. Tali Burgess added 43 yards on the ground, highlighted by a 37-yard burst, and Malachi Mitchell ran for 33 yards. Green led the receivers with 25 yards on two catches. Kicker Logan Eastman connected on a 37-yard field goal, went 4-for-4 on extra points, and sent three of his six kickoffs for touchbacks.
With the win, Apprentice stays unbeaten in New South Conference play at 2-0 while the Gladiators drop to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Builders take on Clayton State Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 PM, for a battle of the NSAC Northern division lead. S4C travels to Trinity College of Florida for a designated NSAC dual.
Story and photo courtesy Apprentice Athletics
