DANVILLE, Va. - Trailing 14-3 early in the third quarter, the Apprentice School football team dug in and fought, making great second half adjustments to score the final 24 points of the contest Saturday night and defeat Averett, 27-14.

The Builders have never lost to Averett in the three previous meetings, scoring at least 20 points in all three matchups played in the series. Each of those games were played at Averett as well.

Mason Tatum led the Builders in total offense, tallying 280 all purpose yards, including 219 through the air on 23-of-38 passing. That included a touchdown throw as well as the final exclamation point of the night on a 72-yard scamper in the final minute.

The Cougars were first to the scoreboard with a quick drive on a short field that resulted in a passing score from Bryce Jackson to Shawn Watlington. After Jeremiah Morgan got the Builders on the board midway through the second with a 23-yard field goal, Apprentice's defense stood up to hold the score at 7-3 at the break.

Averett came out after the halftime festivities and put together an eight play, 75 yard drive that saw Watlington trot in from 33 yards out to extend the lead to 14-3. The Builders finally got the ball for the first time in the second half and went right down the field as Tatum found Ricardo Corpus for a 56-yard pitch and catch to trim the lead down to 14-10.

The Apprentice School took their first lead of the night early in the fourth as Quentez Jordan punched it in from two yards out to take a 17-14 lead. As the defense continued to hold, Morgan extended the lead with 3:47 to play with another field goal, this time from 35 yards before Tatum iced the game with his long touchdown run.

The Builder defense caused two interceptions on the night, holding the Cougars to 3-of-12 on third down and 1-of-3 on fourth down.

Having won each of the last five season openers dating back to 2017, the Builders will play host to Brevard next Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.