VIRGINIA BEACH - The most successful season in the history of the Apprentice School football team is complete as the Builders took down Bridgewater Saturday in the Neptune Bowl, 38-28.
With the Neptune Bowl win, the Builders finish the season at 9-1, marking the first time in program history the season winning percentage finished at .900 or better. It's also the second time in program history the Builders finished with nine wins, matching the single season best from 2018.
The Builder offense exploded for 521 yards of offense, including 312 in the rushing attack. Mason Tatum surpassed 2,000 yards passing on the season after finishing 16-for-29 through the air for 209 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 96 yards and two scores.
After a scoreless first quarter where defense ruled the show, Curtis Green cracked the scoreboard with a 54-yard scamper to take the early lead. After Bridgewater scored with just under two minutes left until halftime, Tatum led the Builders right down the field, scoring with five seconds left on a 3-yard pass to Ta'Kevion Petty to take a 14-7 lead into the half.
Apprentice received the second half kickoff and drove down the field but couldn't convert a 42-yard field goal, giving the ball to the Eagles. Four minutes later, Jasiah Beacham stopped a promising drive with an interception with Tatum cashing in six plays later with a 25-yard sprint to take a 21-7 lead.
After Jeremiah Morgan hit a 31-yard field goal to start the fourth, the Eagles strung together a 10-play drive to cut into the lead, 24-14, but Apprentice answered with a Lawrence Reed 5-yard rushing touchdown to push the lead back out to 17 points.
The Eagles responded with a quick drive to cut the lead down to 10 again, but the Builders recovered an onside kick and got Tatum free again, this time scoring from 32 yards away to put the exclamation point on the game. Bridgewater scored an inconsequential touchdown with under a minute left to get to the final score.
The Neptune Bowl win improves Apprentice to 1-1 in the bowl game's history.
