NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – As the Christopher Newport University and Newport News Apprentice School football programs prepare to play each other in the inaugural Anchor Bowl this Saturday, members of the two programs came together recently to perform community service projects in the area their schools are located in.

A total of 240 players from the Captains and Builders combined efforts in the Crosstown Community Service Day. The student-athletes, who will play against each other at TowneBank Stadium Saturday night, were divided into teams consisting of players from each school.

The groups stretched out to serve 22 sites throughout Newport News and the surrounding area. The sites included the Tom and Ann Hunnicutt YMCA, Thrive, the Salvation Army and numerous local schools.

"It was a great day for both programs and the community as well," Christopher Newport Head Coach Paul Crowley said. "I think it really showed that our student-athletes care about the community they live in, and they really enjoyed the experience. Giving back and helping your neighbors are important values, and I thought the teams really came together and did exactly that."

Saturday night when they meet on the field, the programs will be competing against each other for just the second time ever. The Apprentice School won the first meeting, 38-35, four years ago.

Tickets for the inaugural Anchor Bowl are on sale now at the Freeman Center Ticket Office, open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on the Christopher Newport campus. For more ticket information, call 757-594-7880.

Kickoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. Saturday at TowneBank Stadium.