NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Apprentice School football team showed off its offensive firepower and never stopped fighting in a hard-nosed battle Saturday at home against the Methodist University Monarchs.

Down 21-9 in the third quarter, the Builders answered with a statement in a single play: quarterback Trevon Griffin connected with Baker Green on a electrifying 79-yard touchdown strike, the longest offensive play of the game. Griffin finished the day with 216 passing yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball to six different receivers, while Green hauled in two catches for 81 yards.

The Builders weren’t done. Two possessions later, Tali Burgess capped a gritty six-play, 59-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, and Apprentice School had claimed a 22-21 lead. Burgess led all rushers with 31 yards on 12 carries and was a workhorse on both sides of the ball, chipping in on returns as well. Harrygan Kelly also punched in a rushing score in the second quarter on a 9-play, 69-yard drive, part of an Apprentice ground game that outgained Methodist 65-29 for the day.

Statistically, the Builders controlled much of the afternoon. Apprentice School out-gained Methodist 281-137 in total offense, piled up 67 plays to Methodist’s 53, and held a commanding 34:24 to 25:36 edge in time of possession. The Builders also finished a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone and converted a fourth-down try to keep drives alive.

Defensively, Emmanuel Patterson paced the Builders with eight total tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry, while Leslie Hines, Breiden Lowery, and Cameron Bassani each notched seven stops. Lowery added two tackles for loss, and the Apprentice front consistently pressured the Methodist passing attack, recording two sacks.

Story courtesy Apprentice Sports Information; photo courtesy DeMetri Washington @pixxbydk