VIRGINIA BEACH — Nansemond River’s football squad lined up against an opponent for the first time this season on Thursday at Bayside High School. Fortunately for the Warriors, they have a couple more weeks of practice and one more scrimmage before the games count.

Bayside scored three touchdowns between the controlled part of the scrimmage, when the sides alternated 15 consecutive plays on offense, and a more live part of the scrimmage when teams traded possession similar to a real game.

During Bayside’s first possession, the Marlins marched down the field for two 70-yard drives and two touchdowns with little problem. The Warriors ended Bayside’s first series of plays positively, holding Bayside on downs and recording a sack and a forced fumble among the final few plays.

On Nansemond River’s offensive side, the Warriors managed only a couple of first downs during their first series of plays. The Warriors gained a first down thanks to a pass interference penalty and a second on their final play of the possession when Morris Johnson completed a pass to Jalen Thrower.

Johnson was the first-string quarterback for the Warriors. Justin Anderson came on to lead the offense for about the final third of the scrimmage.

Anderson showed good mobility, but Bayside’s defensive line was in the backfield quickly on a number of plays and the problem grew worse for the Warriors as the evening went along.

In the more game-like portion of the scrimmage, Bayside added its final touchdown. The Marlins scored in three plays after recovering a fumbled snap by Johnson and getting possession at the Warrior 40.

Nansemond River hosts Heritage in its last scrimmage on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Warriors start the regular season with a Southeastern District test at Grassfield on Thursday, Sept. 3.