NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Methodist football team opened play in 2015 with an 18-0 win at The Apprentice School on Saturday afternoon.

The Monarchs' (1-0) defense limited the Builders (0-1) to 10 first downs on the day and held them to 169 total yards of offense while coming up with 4 turnovers, including three interceptions, one of which Shyheim Simpson returned 35 yards for a touchdown.

The Monarchs offense gave the visitors a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter as E'Mond Brown capped a 12-play, 50-yard drive with an 11-yard. The point after attempt failed.

Despite seeing six first-half drives end via punt or downs, MU was bolstered by a defensive effort that forced seven punts, one fumble and a missed field goal on nine Apprentice School drives in the opening 30 minutes. The fumble, recovered by Carlos McCracken, came after a 30-yard punt by Jordan Vann and gave the Monarchs possession back at their own 42 yard line.

In the third quarter, MU began with possession and advanced to the Apprentice 23 yard line on the strength of a pair of Dylan DeGroot-to-Brandon Johnson pass plays that covered 16 and 19 yards, respectively. After a pair of incomplete passes and a rush for loss of one that pushed the Green and Gold back to the 24, Brandon Torres had a 41-yard field goal attempt blocked.

Methodist stretched its lead out to 12-0 as Damarco Smith hauled in a nine-yard pass from Jordan Vann with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter. MU's two-point attempt failed.

On The Apprentice Schools ensuing drive, Simpson picked off Caleb Heath on the second play and raced 35 yards the other way to push the Green and Gold's lead to 18-0 with 3:02 on the clock.

Emontie Dears led the Monarchs with 64 yards rushing on 22 carries, while Brown had 27 yards on 10 carries with the touchdown. DeGroot started under center and finished 15-of-30 for 127 yards with one interception in his first collegiate game. Vann came on in the second half as completed 6-of-8 passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. Brandon Johnson led the receiving corps with five catches for 59 yards. Anthony Radke had 48 yards on four catches.

Defensively, Bryan Bing had a team-best 12 tackles, and Zayd Stivender had eight tackles, including 3.5 for loss. Will England had seven stops and 1.5 sacks, while James Choyce and Brandon Boyd each had interceptions.

Heath finished 16-of-35 for 93 yards with three interceptions on the day. Dustin Hiner led the ground game with 57 yards on 12 carries, and Ethan Bryce had five receptions. Brandon Hampton led the defense with 10 tackles, and Travis Harris had eight, including 1.5 for loss.

Methodist opens at home on Saturday when it hosts Guilford at 1:00 pm.