Salisbury Opens 2011 Campaign with 42-3 Victory over Apprentice
SALISBURY, Md. – Junior slot Ross Flanigan rushed for a career-high 104 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Salisbury University football team to a 42-3 opening-day victory over The Apprentice School before 1,620 on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium. With the win, the Sea Gulls have now won the last 10 meetings over the Builders and have outscored them 160-17 over the last three contests.
Salisbury (1-0) amassed 307 yards on the ground against The Apprentice School (0-1) and had four different players find the end zone to post its 11th straight opening-day win. Flanigan's efforts propelled the ground game for the Sea Gulls but the offense did not stop there as senior superback Randal Smedley and junior quarterback Dan Griffin rushed for 83 and 55 yards, respectively. Griffin threw for 109 yards and pitched in with a pair of touchdown passes to junior wide out Juma Richards and senior wide out Doug Ticse.
Along with the powerful surge of the SU offense, the defensive effort was not to be outdone. The unit posted three interceptions and forced eight punts altogether, limiting the Builders to minus-36 rushing yards in the game, a new Salisbury program record. Senior linebacker Jamey McClendon posted a game-high nine tackles while senior linebacker James Piersanti tied a career high with eight. Junior defensive back Chris Everett and senior defensive lineman Matt Leon both collected five tackles while junior linebacker Kevin Costello had four. Three Sea Gulls had interceptions in the contest in sophomore defensive back Andre Carter, freshman defensive back Cody Schecter and Piersanti.
SU wasted no time scoring in the game as after just two plays in Griffin found Richards for a 55-yard touchdown pass. The game was an even battle across the next two possessions before Flanigan marched in from 12 yards out to make the score 14-0. Apprentice's Blake Penix split the uprights for a 23-yard field goal to bring the game within 11 points but the score was as close as the Builders would get as SU scored two more times in the half to take a 29-3 lead at halftime.
The SU defensive unit posted a second half shutout over Apprentice to compliment SU rushing scores by Flanigan and sophomore slot Joey Sutch. The touchdown by Sutch proved to be the first of his Sea Gull career. Salisbury held the Builders to just 51 second half yards as minus-4 yards were accumulated by Apprentice in the fourth frame.
Apprentice was led in the contest by the efforts of wide receivers Al Little (four receptions) and Tyler Johnson (three receptions), who both snagged passes for a total of 51 yards. Paul Morgan threw for 113 yards on a 10-for-16 effort through the air. The Builder defense was propelled by Jonathon Jones, who tied a game-high with nine tackles. Aaron Finley and Darren Clark brought down six Sea Gulls while Corey Sept made five tackles of his own. Kyle Hamby booted two punts for 80 yards.
Salisbury will stay at home for its next contest when the Sea Gulls host Ithaca College on Saturday, September 10 at 12 p.m. The game marks the Sea Gulls' first-ever contest in the Empire 8 Conference. It is the first meeting between the two teams since December 6, 1986 when SU claimed a 44-40 victory over the Bombers in the NCAA Division III Semifinals.