NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Apprentice School Builders started their 2026 campaign with a 27-14 victory over visiting Sussex County Community College Saturday afternoon at the Apprentice Athletic complex, behind three rushing touchdowns and a defense that came up with four takeaways.

Quarterback Brock Hoffman set the tone early, capping a 7-play, 53-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 6-0 in the first quarter. The Builders struck again quickly to open the second, needing just two plays to cover 15 yards after a Jabari Anderson interception set them up at the Sussex 15. Malachi Mitchell punched it in from 2 yards out to push the lead to 12-0.

Sussex County answered before halftime, riding a 10-play, 92-yard march that was capped off by a 22-yard Connor Hawkins touchdown catch from Kareem Moore to cut it to 12-7.

Apprentice answered every punch from Sussex County. Bradley Hebb bulled in from a yard out early in the third quarter to make it 20-7, and Hoffman found Malachi Madden for a 14-yard touchdown strike later in the frame to push their lead to 27-7. Hebb led all rushers with 43 yards on 14 carries, while Mitchell added 39 yards and a score of his own.

Sussex County’s Hawkins hauled in his second touchdown of the day, an 11-yard grab, with 1:50 left in the fourth to make it a two-score game, but the Builders’ defense, paced by Leslie Hines’ 12 tackles and Emmanuel Patterson’s forced fumble and seven tackles, closed the door from there, running out the final possession to seal the victory.

Apprentice leaned on a stout ground game with 132 yards and 3 touchdown, and a plus-2 turnover margin to pull away. The Builders also converted all four of their red-zone chances into touchdowns.

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