The Nansemond River Warriors got back in the win column with a 28-8 victory over visiting Deep Creek on Friday night.

A stifling defensive effort held the Hornets to 122 yards of total offense, no score until the fourth quarter, and the Warriors sacked their quarterback four times.

In the third quarter, Deep Creek blocked a punt deep in Nansemond River territory and gained possession on the Warriors’ 17-yard line, but they still came up empty.

Three times the Hornets advanced into the red zone and were denied.

The scoring actually got started in the first quarter when Nansemond River blocked a punt. The ball ricocheted up in the air and junior linebacker Marvin Branch snatched it, returning it for a 43-yard touchdown just over three minutes into the game.

Then, with two seconds left in the first half, Warriors senior quarterback Darwin Barbee tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Mel Giddens.

Branch’s heroics were not contained to the first half, as he registered a 25-yard pick six early in the third quarter.

The two teams traded fumbles in the fourth quarter and then Deep Creek finally converted a running touchdown and got the two-point conversion.

With the score 21-8 and time to play, the Hornets looked like they might have life. Then Warriors junior Latrell “Vegas” Sandifer, asserted himself on the scoreboard, crossing the goal line on a 10-yard run with about three minutes to play.

Sandifer finished the game with 31 carries for 197 yards.

The Warriors racked up 298 yards of total offense, all but 22 of them on the ground.

Nansemond River (2-3, 1-3) travels to play Indian River next Friday.