NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – The Apprentice School football team announced its 2011 football schedule on Wednesday with six home games including a mix of new faces and long time opponents returning to the slate.

On September 3, the Builders open the season in Salisbury, MD. facing former conference opponent Salisbury University.  The Sea Gulls begin play this season in the Empire 8 – a New York based conference.  They were an NCAA Tournament qualifier last year and finished with a 7-3 mark.

The following weekend the team will head to Buies Creek, N.C. for a first-time meeting with the Camels of Campbell University.  Campbell, which plays in a non-scholarship NCAA Division I-AA conference, is the highest-level team the Builders have faced in the modern era.  The Camels finished last year 3-8 and are scheduled to return the game to Newport News in 2012.

Homecoming 2011 will kick off the home schedule for the Builders on September 17 when they'll host Greensboro College.  The Pride finished 2-8 last year and served as the home opener last season when the Builders pulled out a 9-7 victory on USO Day.  That win evened the series with the Pride at four wins apiece.

The following weekend a long-time opponent returns to the schedule as Gallaudet University comes to Newport News on September 24.  The Bison and the Builders have not met on the football field since 2002 when the Builders won 23-5 in Washington, D.C.  Gallaudet plays in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and finished 5-5 last season.

October begins with the Builders heading to near Harrisonburg, VA. to face Bridgewater College on October 1.  The Eagles and the Builders have not met on the field since 1985 when the Builders won 21-0.  Bridgewater plays in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and nearly qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year with an 8-2 record.

Following a week off, the Builders hit the home field for the first of four straight weeks when they'll face the Cardinals of Catholic University.  Last year these teams played in the second week of the season and put on an offensive showing in Washington, D.C. as Catholic won 42-32.  The Cardinals are also members of the ODAC and finished last year with a 4-6 record.

In-state rival Southern Virginia University comes to Newport News for an October 22 matchup.  Last year, the Builders scored in the last two minutes in Buena Vista to take a 20-18 decision over the Knights.  Southern Virginia is a member of the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association and has defeated the Builders once in seven matchups.  SVU finished last year 4-7.

LaGrange College makes its first-ever visit to Newport News on October 29 for a 1 pm matchup.  The Panthers scored in the last minute in the 2010 meeting at LaGrange to pull out a 21-14 victory over the Builders.  LaGrange plays as a NCAA Division III Independent and was 3-7 last year.

Perennial NCAA Division III powerhouse Wesley College closes out the home schedule with a November 5 visit.  The Wolverines made the NCAA Division III Semifinals last year en route to a 12-1 record when they were the top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament.  Wesley now plays as a NCAA Division III Independent.

The season ends for the Builders on November 12 when they travel to Babson Park, FL. to face Webber International University.  The Warriors defeated the Builders to close out the 2010 season in Newport News and finished the year with a 7-4 record.  Webber received votes in the NAIA Top 20 poll midway through the year last year.

Be sure to check out www.gobuilders.com for any updates.

 2011 Apprentice School Football Schedule