NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School football team used all three phases of the game to take down Keystone Saturday afternoon, 45-21, on Senior Day.
With the win, the Builders send their record above .500 for the first time this season. They also stretch their winning streak against teams from Pennsylvania to two games.
Keystone took the opening kickoff but couldn’t do anything with their drive as the Builders forced a punt. Baker Green took that punt and returned it 84 yards down the sideline and put the Builders on the board. After the Giants’ offense fumbled on their next drive, Apprentice got deep into Keystone territory before the drive stalled, allowing Logan Eastman to hit a 20-yard chip shot to push the lead to 10-0.
The Giants answered with an eight play drive that spanned 70 yards to cut the lead to 10-7, but just 16 seconds after giving up a touchdown, the Builders hit one of their own as Kendall Hunt found T.K. Petty for a 68-yard strike to push the lead back to 10. The 68-yard passing score was the second longest offensive play this season. Then, 17 seconds after Petty’s score, Keystone’s quarterback dropped back to pass and threw an interception to Jabari Anderson that was returned to the house, pushing the score to 24-7 with 4:14 to go in the first.
After trading possessions, Keystone got back to work, putting together an 11-play drive that took over five minutes off the clock, scoring on a 5-yard pass to trim the lead down. The Giants then got an interception and put together a nine play drive that resulted in a touchdown, cutting the lead to 24-21 with 5:07 to go until half. The Builders missed a field goal on their ensuing drive, giving Keystone a chance to get points before halftime. After driving down deep into Builder territory, Keystone looked as if they were going to score again, but Anderson stepped in front of another pass and had no one in front of him for a 93-yard pick-six to take a 31-21 lead into halftime. That marks the second longest interception return in program history.
The Builder offense then controlled the tempo the rest of the day, scoring on a Hunt 27-yard run and a Tyreon Taylor 5-yard run in the third quarter to get to the final score.
Hunt finished the day 15-of-23 for 182 yards and a touchdown. He added 96 rushing yards on 13 carries.
The Builders will jump back into New South Athletic Conference play next week for a North Division matchup with Barber-Scotia. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Story courtesy of Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; Image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson/@shotsbyk8lyn