Box Score Brevard, NC – It may have taken 2 years to get back on the field, plus an extra week with last weekend's game being canceled, but the Apprentice Builders Football Team came into hostile territory on Saturday looking to make a statement against NCAA Division III and USA South member Brevard College. The Tornados were picked to finished 2nd in their division this year, while Coach Brown's team was looking for their first program signature win since 2015. In front of a rowdy crowd of 1,423 at Ives-Lemel Family Field, the Builders were able to come away with a thrilling 34-27 OT victory, giving Coach Vince Brown his first victory as the Builders Head Coach, while also seeing Jeremiah Morgan convert the longest the field goal in school history, twice.
Early in the first quarter, Apprentice got on the board first after QB Mason Tatum found Leland Girdy for a 42-yard touchdown pass. The 4-play drive would take only 1:48, as the Builders found themselves up 7-0. However, Brevard was able to answer with two straight touchdowns and quickly took the lead 14-7, as the quarter came to an end.
Just 2 minutes into the second quarter, Brevard was looking to extend their lead, but Xavien "Buck" Hunter stepped in front of a pass on 1st and Goal and took the ball 90-yards for a pick 6. This would tie the game at 14-14 and slow down the momentum that the Tornados were gaining. Both defenses were able to shut down the offenses until Brevard eventually connected on a 45-yard FG to take a 17-14 lead. On their next possession, the Builders were able to move the ball down the field for a 1st and Goal, but the Tornados recovered a forced fumble. As the half came to an end, Brevard would take the 17-14 lead into the locker room.
Apprentice began the third quarter on offense and took full advantage of it. QB Mason Tatum started the 2nd half with two complete passes and then took advantage of a Brevard personal foul to get the ball into Tornado territory. After another completed pass by Tatum. Kicker Jeremiah Morgan came on the field and drained a school record 46-yard FG, which tied the game. However, that record would not stand for long, as Morgan gave the Builders a 20-17 lead after connecting on a new school record, 47-yard FG. Apprentice was able to hold on to the 3-point lead as the quarter ended.
In the fourth quarter, both teams traded possessions, until Mason Tatum hit WR Ricardo Corpus in the endzone for a 9-yard TD pass. After Morgan converted the extra point, the Builders found themselves with a 10-point lead, 27-17. However, with 4:09 remaining in the game, Brevard would intercept a Taum pass and return it 63 yards for the score, which cut the Apprentice lead to just 3 points, 27-24. The Brevard defense would force the Builders to punt on the next possession and then their offense was able to move the ball down the field and connect on a 41-yard FG, to eventually force the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Apprentice offense took full advantage of their first opportunity as Mason Tatum dropped back in the pocket and found Ricardo Corpus for a 20-yard TD pass. The Builders defense would come on the field, and knew if they could stop Brevard's offense they would give the Apprentice program one of its biggest wins in six years. Despite a 5-yard offside penalty, the Builders forced a 4th down, which saw Christian Walker and Jyshawn Jackson shut down the Brevard rush, giving Apprentice the 34-27 victory.
"You can't ask for anything better in the world right now", said Coach Brown after his first win. "There is no place I would rather be. There were some ups and downs with some adversity, but I reminded the guys going into overtime, we go through more adversity in life, and we are blessed to play this game. It's a signature win for our program and I am just so proud of these young men, all of my staff and our administration".
The Builders were led offensively by QB Mason Tatum who finished the game 19-32 for 173 yards, while throwing 3 TD's. Gabe Tajeda ran the ball 18 times for 48 yards, while five wide receivers combined for 19 receptions, with Leland Girdy pulling in 4 for 78 yards and a TD, while Ricardo Corpus finished the game with 5 receptions for 46 yards and 2 TD's. Paul Massey, Jr led the defense with 14 total tackles and Xavien "Buck" Hunter had 6 total tackles along with a 90-yard interception for a TD. Apprentice will now turn its focus to next Saturday's game at Emory & Henry University. Kick off is scheduled for 1:00pm. However, as the players said walking to the locker room after the win, "this is going to be a fun bus ride home".
