Lakeland scored two touchdowns in 18 seconds to defeat Nansemond River 24-12 in junior varsity football action on Wednesday afternoon. On the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage after a touchdown by Alvin Morris, Rashad Ross intercepted a Deon Artis pass and ran it in from 25 yards away to clinch the game.

&uot;This was one of our ‘hypest’ games,&uot; said Jeffrey Cook, who scored two touchdowns. &uot;We just wanted it more than them.&uot;

After the Cavaliers held the Warriors without a first down on their first possession, Cook returned a punt 29 yards to the Nansemond River 34, and Aston Williams dashed 17 yards to the 17.

Cook fumbled on the next play, but he fell on the ball, and several Warriors jumped on him after the whistle, resulting in a late-hit penalty that moved the ball to the 13. Two plays later, Alex King hit a wide-open Cook on the left sideline, and Cook motored in for a touchdown.

The point-after failed, but the Warriors were again unable to get a first down, and Lakeland got the ball back on their 38. Runs by Cook, Williams, and King moved them to the Warrior 36, and King hit Ross at the 21. After Williams and Cook picked up nine yards on the next two plays, King handed off to Williams at the 17.

Williams broke toward the left corner of the endzone, and appeared to cross the goal line. But at the last second, Charlton Austin lunged at Williams, and knocked the ball out. The ball skittered out of the endzone, giving Nansemond River the ball at the 20.

Artis charged eight yards on fourth down, but a clipping penalty moved the Warriors back to their six, and had to punt again, a kick that Cook brought back to the Nansemond River 27.

After a holding penalty pushed the Cavaliers back to the 36, King ran to the 28. He then gave a delayed handoff to Cook, who didn’t look back until he crossed the goal line. The point-after failed again, and the Cavalier lead stayed at 12-0.

With 6:26 to play in the third quarter, the Warriors finally got a few breaks. The Cavaliers were called for roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct on the same play, resulting in a 30-yard markoff to the Lakeland 39. Greg Yancey took a pitchout from Artis, and hurried to the Cavalier 13.

After an illegal motion penalty, the Warriors had a third-and-16 from the 19. Artis tossed a strike to Rashad Pope at the six, bringing up fourth and three.

Artis started to fade back, but saw an opening in the line, and dashed up the middle for his team’s first score.

Fired up, the Warriors stopped the Cavaliers, and Nate Rodgers broke through to block a Cavalier punt on fourth down, giving Nansemond River the ball at the Lakeland 37. On second down, Artis charged around the left side and scored to tie the game. But Miles Nelson got through the line to tackle Dan Miller in the backfield on the point-after, and the score remained 12-12.

The Warriors held, and got the ball back at their own 17. But Mario Waters knocked the ball from Miller’s hands, and the Cavaliers got the ball back at the Warrior 35 with five minutes to play.

Cook ran to the 29, and the Warriors were penalized for having 12 men on the field, moving the ball to the six. But Nansemond River pushed Lakeland back three yards over the next three plays.

On fourth down, King handed off to Cook, who headed toward the right side of the line. But instead of continuing, he handed off to Morris, who ran untouched around the left side to score.

&uot;I knew that was a touchdown as soon as I got the ball,&uot; said Morris. &uot;All I saw was daylight!&uot;

Nansemond River got the ball back at their own 36, and Artis faded toward the left sideline on first down. Ross charged toward him, and Artis attempted to lob the ball over the Cavalier, but Ross reached up, snatched the ball, and rumbled into the endzone.

&uot;I was going to hit him, but when I caught the ball, that was it,&uot; said Ross.

The Suffolk high school varsity teams will do battle at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Nansemond River.