NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – Sophomore Jodey McNeil ran for 122 yards and a touchdown and fellow sophomore Jonathan Whelan scored a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Apprentice School lost 44-14 to Bridgewater College in front of nearly 3,500 at Apprentice Field Saturday.
Bridgewater's Jacob Wright got the Eagles on the scoreboard early taking the second play of the game 66-yards for a touchdown. Following a 34-yard field goal from John Griggs with 8:27 left, Wright nearly ended the first quarter as he finished a 67-yard drive with a 17-yard run to put Bridgewater (4-0) up 16-0 after one quarter.
Quarterback Willie Logan threw the first of his three touchdown passes to start the second quarter. After forcing a Builder punt, Logan connected with Jayme Perry on a 40-yard scoring strike to take a 23-0 lead with 13:06 left.
The Builder defense stepped up on the ensuing Bridgewater possession as Jholy Mauai recovered a fumble on the Bridgewater 28 to give the Apprentice School (1-4) a great starting point. They didn't waste time as McNeil broke through several tacklers and scampered in for a 28-yard touchdown run with 10:51 left to cut the lead to 23-7.
In the third quarter, the Logan touchdown connections picked up as he found Shawn Lee on a 49-yard scoring strike and Cord Keating on a 17-yarder to take a 37-7 lead with 13 seconds left in the quarter. The Lee was set up after the Eagles defense forced a turnover on downs and they struck on the first play.
Bridgewater closed its scoring early in the fourth as Ryan Green-Ellis broke loose on a 50-yard scoring jaunt to take a 44-7 lead with 12:40 left.
Apprentice School's defense gave the Builders one last shot to score as Emmett Artis stepped in front of a Carols Gonzalez pass and returned it 15 yards to the Bridgewater 15 with 4:50 left. The Builders methodically pushed their way in as Whelan's quarterback sneak from the two gave the Builders a second touchdown with 2:18 left and making the score 44-14.
The Builders did manage something on Bridgewater that no team has done thus far this year as they ran for 115 yards as a team. McNeil's 122 yards is the most by an individual this year against the Eagles. Defensively, the Builders were headed by Brock Bullock with eight tackles, JaMarcus James and Darin Spencer had seven each.
Wright ran for 110 yards to lead the Bridgewater rushing attack, while Logan was 22-of-34 for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Keating was just under 100 yards in receptions with seven catches and 99 yards.
Apprentice School has a short turnaround this week as they head to Salem, Va. on October 5 to face in-state rival Southern Virginia University in a 3 pm Friday afternoon kickoff at Salem Stadium.