It is a particularly great time to be a Nansemond-Suffolk Academy football fan.

Not only are the Saints strong state title contenders this year and close to winning the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, they also have two seniors who are inscribing their names into the history books.

Linebacker Cole Christiansen reached a career total of 407 tackles on Saturday, breaking the NSA record and possibly the TCIS and state records.

Meanwhile on offense, running back Noah Giles is 41 yards away from breaking the NSA regular season rushing record of 1,775 yards that has stood since 1980.

Christiansen, who has been racking up tackles throughout high school, said a lot of work in the offseason made his incredible tally possible.

“I went to a speed guide three times a week this whole offseason and dropped my 40 time by almost three tenths of a second,” he said. “My sophomore year, I was getting up and lifting at 5 in the morning at Anytime Fitness. So it’s just persistent effort, I think.”

He noted the game ball representing his 400th tackle from Saturday will go into the trophy case at Nansemond-Suffolk.

“It’s very exciting,” Christiansen said. “Now I’ve got a tangible legacy that’s going to sit in school when I leave.”

T.W. Johnson, NSA director of boys’ athletics, has been doing research to determine where Christiansen’s achievement ranks in both conference and state history.

“We don’t think it’s been done (before) according to all the research we’ve done,” Johnson said.

It has been difficult to get definitive evidence, though, because of a lack of record-keeping when it comes to defensive statistics.

Johnson said he talked to the head of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association about it, but “they don’t have any records.”

He also spoke to The Virginian-Pilot, but said, “People just don’t keep defensive records the way they do offensive (ones).”

Johnson said he has spoken to coaches at both public and private Virginia schools and while some feel like 400 tackles has been reached before, “no one’s been able to say, ‘I had a player do it,’ or ‘We know a player who’s done it.’”

Marveling at Christiansen’s accomplishment, Saints coach Lew Johnston said, “I think that’s amazing that he would average 100 tackles a year. He’s just a tackling machine. He’s just got that ability to have a nose for the ball, and again, he’s one step ahead of the offense. He’s not just aggressive, he’s very smart. He understands the game.”

On the other side of the ball, Giles has racked up 1,735 rushing yards this season, averaging 9.6 yards per carry, and should easily surpass the school record on Friday at home against struggling Hampton Roads Academy.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Giles said of his being in a position to break the record and exceed even ambitious expectations. “You don’t really think over the course of the season you run for that much. You just go out there and you just play.”

Former NSA star tailback Danny Holly has held the regular season rushing record for the last 35 years.

“I was actually surprised at what it was or that anybody even remembered other than my mom and dad,” Holly said.

He had a pleasant interaction with Giles when he got to meet him recently and is pleased with the respect that Giles commands from those who know him.

“They say all records are made to be broken, and he seems like the right guy to do it, and it’s the right time, so it’s good for him, it’s good for the school,” Holly said.

Giles appreciated getting to meet Holly. “It was just a cool experience meeting one of the greats from NSA.”

As for Giles being on the brink of the record, Lew Johnston said it “couldn’t have happened to a better guy.”

Terry Crigger, who was NSA’s football coach in 1980, said, “I’m happy for Noah. I coach him in track. He’s a great kid, a great athlete, and records are made to be broken. And someone one day will probably break his, but it will stand as long as it stands.”