Suffolk News-Herald

The Saints defense put in their third straight outstanding defensive effort Friday night at home on Senior Night.

Going up against a Blue Ridge School team that put up 42 points on St. Anne’s-Belfield (whom NSA lost to 7-3 earlier in the season) last week, the Saints pitched a 20-0 shutout, finishing the regular season with a 5-4 record and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Early offense set the tone of the night with two impressive long drives in the first quarter.

Taking the opening kick, NSA converted three third downs on their way down the field.

Finally, a five-yard sweep around the right side by Kyle Jett pushed a Baron linebacker, and the football, over the goal line.

The Saints had moved 72 yards in 12 plays.

The NSA ground game on their next possession.

Beginning at their own nine, the Saints moved the ball on two Tyler Van Selow carries and one by Jason Rock to the 37.

From the 37, Jett took a carry through the middle, broke cleanly through a big hole, and charged out toward the right sideline, covering 59 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the Baron four.

On the next play, Van Selow took care of the four, and put NSA up 14-0 with :31 left in the first quarter.

NSA’s defense dominated the Baron offense through the first half, not allowing a rushing yard.

The Saints tallied seven tackles for losses or sacks in the first half.

Charles Persons led the charge with three tackles for losses.

Ryland Gwaltney kicked a 37-yard field goal with just under five minutes left before the half, giving the Saints a 17-0 lead at the break.

Blue Ridge began the second half with the ball and marched right down the field inside the NSA 15.

On third and seven, the Saints defense made their stand.

On a rollout left, Persons sacked the Baron quarterback for a loss of seven.

On fourth down, a pass attempt into the end zone was broken up by Jett, ending the Barons’ threat.

Later in the third, another Baron drive was stopped on a Mychal Cohen fumble recovery on a bobbled handoff in the backfield.

Jack Wright intercepted a Baron pass attempt on the next Blue Ridge drive; Wright’s 17-yard return gave NSA the ball at the Baron 39 with 10:22 left to go.

The possession ended in another Gwaltney field goal, this time from 24 yards out.

In addition to the fumble recovery, Cohen also recorded two sacks.

Overall, NSA held Blue Ridge to 82 total yards, while offensively racking up 260 rushing yards and 49 passing yards.

Adam Gillette caught two Adam Keeling passes for 41 yards.

Jett finished with 14 carries for 101 yards and Van Selow had 96 on 17 carries.

While everything went right for NSA, little followed suit for the Suffolk public school teams. Lakeland fell 31-6 to visiting Deep Creek, with Kelly Sims getting the sole touchdown. Indian River defeated King’s Fork 76-0, and Western Branch ended Nansemond River’s season with a 50-14 defeat. Lakeland will visit King’s Fork next Friday.