Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s football team squeaked past St. Anne’s Belfield on Friday to move to 2-3 for the season.

The Saints’ 20-18 home win came after disappointing losses the last couple of weeks. Though it wasn’t the team’s best effort, the Saints will gladly take the win.

“It was not a perfect performance in terms of execution,” coach Mike Biehl said. “There’s a lot that we need to clean up. It’s good to know that you can get a win, even though there were more plays to make on the field.”

The Saints were up six after the first quarter. Throughout the game, they got big plays from Ehron Knight, including a 62-yard touchdown run. Shaun Faulk helped NSA get on the board first, with a 24-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

“I’m proud that we made plays down the stretch that we needed to make,” Biehl said. “We took care of the turnover margin. Our core players made key plays.”

The Saints want to build on this win. From week to week, NSA wants to put up consistent performances that allow them to win. So far this season, that goal has been elusive, as NSA has yet to win two consecutive games in a row.

“This game was very important to us,” Knight said. “After the loss, the week before, this win was needed. This was a confidence booster that we needed to get us going.”

Defensively NSA forced three turnovers — two fumbles and an interception by Erek Smith. NSA wanted to put St. Anne’s in a position where they had to throw the ball to win something that they weren’t comfortable with.

“We know we can win close games,” senior Keshaun Moore said. “We just have to continue building trust in each other, and we will be fine. We have to keep working.”

For week six, the Saints will be on the road against Blue Ridge School at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

NSA – 6 8 6 0

St Anne’s Belfield – 0 6 6 6

NSA stats:

Total yards: 276

Passing: Tew (12-23-64-1TD), Knight (3-3-3yds)

Rushing: Tew (6-10), Knight (5-80-1TD), Faulk (19-82-1TD), Moore (4-35)

Receiving: Smith (7-31), Moore (4-42)