NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School Builders delivered a dominant defensive performance and controlled the clock Saturday afternoon, defeating Clayton State 22-8 on Homecoming to clinch the New South Conference (NSAC) North Division title.

The Builders’ defense set the tone, holding the Lakers to 80 total yards and negative-36 yards rushing. The Builders sacked the Lakers eight times for 74 yards and stopped Clayton State on 13 of its 14 third-down attempts.

Linebacker Leslie Hines led the defense with 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Emmanuel Patterson added a sack and two tackles for loss, while Carter Sullivan recorded a sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hurries. Breiden Lowery, Cameron Bassani, and Tanner Cook also recorded sacks.

The secondary made its mark as well. Jerrell Burse intercepted a pass just before halftime to end a Clayton State drive, and Jabari Anderson sealed the victory with a late fourth-quarter interception.

Quarterback Patrick Chewning completed 10 of 15 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 50 yards, including a 46-yard run in the second quarter that set up his scoring pass to Ryan McLister. McLister’s 28-yard touchdown reception came with 43 seconds left in the first half and capped an eight-play, 91-yard drive that put the Builders ahead 15-0 at the break.

Tali Burgess led the ground game with 57 yards on 10 carries, an average of 5.7 yards per carry, including a 24-yard run to open the second half. Two plays later, on a flea flicker, Baker Green connected with Isaiah Townsend on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Townsend finished with four receptions for 31 yards. As a team, the Builders rushed for 171 yards.

Kicker Logan Eastman connected on field goals of 22 and 40 yards and made both of his extra-point attempts. He also recorded three touchbacks on five kickoffs, averaging 59.4 yards per kick.

The Builders will face Coppin State next Saturday before playing for the NSAC Football Championship on November 21 in Ellenwood, Georgia against either Gordon State or Lighthouse Christian.

Story courtesy Jacob Mullins/Apprentice Sports Information; photo courtesy Apprentice Sports Information

LA PLUME, Pa. — Logan Eastman connected on a 49-yard field goal with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday, lifting The Apprentice School to a 10-7 victory over Keystone College in a defensive battle.

The Builders overcame an early seven-point deficit, scoring 10 unanswered points to secure the road victory.

The Giants struck first with 10:34 remaining in the opening quarter when quarterback Trevin Arnold connected with Quinten Barclay on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Jaedyn Sanchez added the extra point to give the Giants a 7-0 advantage.

Apprentice answered later in the quarter, putting together a scoring drive capped by Patrick Chevning’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining. Eastman converted the extra point to tie the game at 7.

Neither team managed another touchdown as the defenses took control.

The contest remained deadlocked until Eastman delivered the decisive kick late in the fourth quarter, putting the Builders ahead for the first time.

Apprentice held on over the final three minutes to complete the comeback and earn the three-point victory.

Photo courtesy DeMetri Washington @pixxbydk

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