The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy football program had seven players honored with TCIS all-conference awards, including Keshaun Moore, who won the Player of the Year honor.

The Saints football team finished the season with a 4-6 record under first-year coach Mike Biehl.

On offense, NSA had three players named to the TCIS first team. Senior Edwards Morgan was named to the first team on the offensive line. Senior Shuan Faulk was named first team running back after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in his first year of playing high school football. Ehron Knight made the first-team offense at receiver.

The first-team defense featured Jack Bivins at defensive lineman and Erek Smith at defensive back. Bivins was also named to the second team at offensive lineman. Smith was named to the first team last year and was also named first team all-state. He was also named second team receiver. Ben Koppelman was also named to the second team defense.

“It’s an honor to be named all-conference,” Smith said. “I’m just grateful to be able to make it twice.”

Senior KeShaun Moore was not only one of the first team linebackers but also was named TCIS Player of the Year. This makes the second year in a row the player of the year was from NSA. For Moore, he received second team all-TCIS honors at running back last year and was a first team VISAA all-state linebacker last season.

Moore said his goal coming into the year wasn’t to win the highest award, but he is grateful for it.

“I’m thankful to receive such an honor,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting knowing that throughout our conference the coaches felt I was one of the best on the field. It’s a huge accomplishment for me.”

He said he wanted to do the best he could individually for his team to allow the Saints to have a successful season. Moore is headed to James Madison University next year to play linebacker.

“This is a testament to how hard he plays and how much he stood out,” Biehl said. “The award speaks to the character of who he is as a person as well as an athlete.”

The Saints are graduating five players and plan to have 22 players returning. Of the players who made the all-conference teams, Koppleman and Smith will be returning. Biehl is looking forward to his first full offseason with NSA.

“These honors are a great springboard to go with our last win of the season,” Biehl said. “Heading into the offseason last year there was a lot of uncertainty. We have a foundation set now we can build off of.”