Winchester, VA – It seems like it just yesterday the season began at Brevard College as the Apprentice Football team walked off the field with the overtime win.  Fast forward to today and the Builders would take the field one last time as they traveled to Shenandoah University to face the Hornets in the season finale.  It would also be the last time Isiah Washington and Blake Brasure would wear the Maroon and Gold, and their fellow teammates wanted nothing more than to give them one last victory celebration.

Apprentice would send the defense out to start the game and try to stop the throwing game of the Hornets.  However, Shenandoah was able to put together a drive and punch it in to take the early lead, 7-0.  QB Grant Swanger got the start again and tried to move the ball down the field, but the Builders would have to punt the ball away.  The Hornets offense took advantage of good field position and scored their 2^nd TD of the game, at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter, giving them the 14-0 advantage.  On their 2^nd possession of the game, the Apprentice offense would go 3 and out, giving the ball back to Shenandoah.  However, Isiah Washington and the defense tightened up and stopped the Hornets on a 3^rd and 12, forcing them to punt for the first time on the day.  A 9-yard run from Lawrence Reed, along with another 1-yard run gave the Builders their first 1^st down on the day but, unfortunately, they were not able to capitalize on it.  The Hornets once again were able to take the ball down the field and take a 21-0 lead, with 14:30 remaining in the half.  The offense came back on the field and put together their best drive of the day so far, which resulted in a 39-yard FG from Jeremiah Morgan, cutting the Shenandoah lead to 21-3.  On the next possession, the defense forced a 4^tth down and gave the ball back to the offense on their own 25-yard line with 4:23 left in the half.  The Hornets tried to end the half with a FG but it was blocked by the Builders and they would head to the locker room down 21-3. 

Apprentice came out of the locker room with the ball and began to move it down the field.  However, the drive would stall, and Jeremiah Morgan came on to punt the ball. Unfortunately, it was off the side of his foot and Shenandoah took over in Builder's territory.  The defense quickly made a statement, sacking the QB and forcing a fumble, which was recovered by LB Riley Harrison.  The Apprentice offensive seized the momentum given to them by their defense and put points on the board when Grant Swanger found Leland Girdy for a 32-yard TD pass, to trim the lead to 21-10.  The defense continued to hold but the Builders would fumble a punt return giving the Hornets the ball back.  They immediately took advantage of the turnover, scoring a TD on the first play of the drive.  The Builders answered that score with a score of their own when Swanger once again found Girdy for a TD pass.  The 31-yard toss cut the lead to 27-16, but Shenandoah tacked on a score of their own, pushing their lead back up to 34-16, and that is how the game would end.

Apprentice was led on the day by Fr. QB Grant Swanger who had one of his best days as a Builder, finishing the game 25-48, passing for 303 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Leland Girdy hauled in 8 balls for 144 yards total receiving, while also scoring 2 touchdowns.  On the defensive side of the ball, Paul Massey, Jr., once again, finished with double digit tackles, recording 10, followed by Riley Harrison with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Isiah Washington finished his last game in an Apprentice uniform with 8 tackles.  The Builders finish the season with a record of 2-7 and will look to continue to build the program in the offseason.  Thank you to all the fans, parents, staff and administration for the support this year and Coach Brown and his program look forward to being back next season.