Nansemond-Suffolk Academy football fell to 2-4 after a 57-14 road loss against Blue Ridge School on Saturday.

Through six games, the Saints have had a rough time this season finding a rhythm. There are games where the Saints play well enough offensively to beat any team but not as strong defensively. However, there are also games where the Saints struggle both ways, and that’s what seemed to be apparent in their road game against Blue Ridge.

The Saints had a total of 184 yards to Blue Ridge’s 507 last Saturday. The Barons ran for 377 yards, with two players rushing for 150-plus yards and three touchdowns each. Defensively, the Saints have given up 50-plus points in three of their six games this year. In both road games, this season they have been outscored 109-26.

Offensively, the Saints were able to get big plays out of strong running back Shaun Faulk, who rushed for 64 yards, with his longest run being 43 yards. Erek Smith made plays in the passing game for the Saints. He had three catches for 76 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown that allowed the Saints to be the first team to get on the board in the first quarter. He also added an interception for the Saints. Ehron Knight scored the other touchdown for the Saints last Saturday afternoon on a touchdown pass from quarterback Robby Tew. Though Tew threw two touchdown passes, he completed eight of his 23 attempts for 110 yards.

After NSA scored their first touchdown of the game with 9:43 left in the first quarter, the Barons went on a five score-run through the rest of the first and second quarter. NSA didn’t score again until 4:25 left in the third quarter and did not score at all in the fourth.

One positive for the Saints was that they were able to win the turnover battle. Saints had three turnovers to the Barons’ five. NSA forced five fumbles and recovered three to go along with two interceptions.

A 2-4 record is not the start the Saints were looking for, but they remain confident in each other. They feel as long as they continue to work hard and stay positive, the results will come.

“We need to take each game one play at a time,” Smith said. “If we do what we are taught to do, the results will come.”

The Saints are on the road again for three of their last four regular season games, and know they still have their best football to play ahead of them.

“We are confident that we can give ourselves a chance to win each game we have left,” Smith said of his team wanting to play better. “As a team, we always feel we always feel we can get better.”

NSA will be at Norfolk Academy at 2 p.m. this Saturday.

 

NSA stats:

Total yards: 184

Passing: Tew (8/23-110-2tds)

Rushing: Faulk (16-64), Moore (2-14)

Receiving: Smith (3-76-1td), Knight (2-33-1td), Moore (2-26)