Nansemond-Suffolk Academy had seven players named to the VISAA Division II football teams.

The Saints finished the season with a 4-6 record, but that didn’t stop the team from receiving multiple All-State selections. In the first year under the direction of coach Mike Biehl, the Saints were represented well.

“It’s a great feeling to know my guys are recognized,” Biehl said. “They are all deserving. It’s one of the fulfilling parts of my jobs to get that recognition. I’m really proud of them.”

The first team consisted of KeShaun Moore, Erek Smith, Shuan Faulk and Ehron Knight. Moore was named a first team All-State player last year and was also named the TCIS player of the year this year. Faulk, in his first year of high school football, was named a first-team All-Conference and All-State running back. Smith was named to the All-State team for the second year in a row, along with Moore.

“It’s a good feeling,” Smith said. “It’s an honor to be recognized with players in the state, and it’s a great thing for our program to know that we have some of the best players in the state.”

“It feels great to be named All-State,” Knight said. “It means we had a lot of good talent on our team this year.”

Jack Bivins was named to the second team as a defensive lineman. Smith was named to the second team as a wide receiver. Ben Koppelman and Edwards Morgan were named All-State honorable mentions. All of the players who received All-State recognition also received All-TCIS awards, too, after the regular season ended.

Koppelman, Smith and Knight are all expected to return next year to lead the way for NSA next year, when NSA will have its first chance for a full year under Biehl’s direction this offseason.

“We are losing some great members on this team this year, but we have so many coming back,” Biehl said. “The ones returning have been through so much together while learning a new system and that’s exciting. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be able to work with our guys in the offseason. It will give us the ability to hit the ground running when the summer hits. We didn’t have that last year.”

“For the guys returning, we will have to set a good example and lead,” Smith said.

First team VISAA D-II All-State:

Senior KeShaun Moore

Senior Shuan Faulk

Junior Erek Smith

Sophomore Ehron Knight

Second team VISAA D-II All-State:

Senior Jack Bivins

Junior Erek Smith (WR)

Honorable mention:

Ben Koppelman

Edwards Morgan