The Warriors proved to be victorious Friday night at Lakeland High School as the rivals clashed.

Rivalry games are always intense and filled with high energy. The Warriors and Cavs had all of that and more Friday night. Nansemond River went to 3-0 after the win, while Lakeland went to 1-2.

“The guys played extremely hard,” Lakeland coach Kevin Knight said. “I feel way better about the effort we showed than what we showed last week. The extra plays we needed to make, we didn’t make them.”

It started off with an intense first quarter. The Warriors got on the board first with a touchdown pass from Kori Riddick to Josiah Hayes. Lakeland took over on its own 20-yard line on the next possession. The Cavs started moving the ball on the ground and moved into Nansemond River territory. A 38-yard touchdown pass from Tyquan Holloman to Nate Edgehill put Lakeland on the board, but they missed the extra point. After one quarter of play, Nansemond River led 7-6.

Nansemond River started off the second quarter moving the ball on the ground. A strong possession by the Warriors stalled as a result of turning the ball over on downs. Lakeland started on its own 19-yard. A three-and-out that ended with a sack by Nansemond River forced Lakeland to punt from its own two-yard line. Nansemond River scored on the following drive with a two-yard run by Kori Riddick.

After the kick-off and then return by Lakeland, the Cavaliers started a new drive on the 40-yard line. On first down, a 60-yard touchdown pass from Holloman to Demonta Hawkins put Lakeland right back on the board. The two-point conversion failed, and Lakeland went into the halftime down 14-12 to the Warriors.

Neither team got much of anything going in the third quarter, and the score was the same heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter proved to bring the drama every rivalry game often has. Lakeland started with possession of the football on its own four-yard line. A sack by Nansemond River led to a forced fumble and an eventual safety by Lakeland. Nansemond River took a 16-12 lead after the safety. Following the safety, Nansemond River stalled on its possession.

On the following possession, Holloman helped the Cavs take their first lead of the game with a two-yard run. After a converted two-point conversion, Lakeland took a 20-16 lead over the Warriors with a little less than three minutes in the fourth.

Nansemond River took the ball and used its potent rushing attack to get all the way down the field, and a touchdown pass from Riddick to Kevin Johnson gave the Warriors a 23-20 lead and eventual game-winning touchdown.

“Lakeland is a good football team,” Warriors coach David Coccoli said. “We made a play when we needed to. I’m glad we are 3-0, but we have work to do. We haven’t played a great game yet, but it’s encouraging to be 3-0 without playing a complete game yet.”

Nansemond River finished with 201 yards rushing. Wali Faulk had the team lead with 100. Johnson had 53 yards receiving and the game-winning touchdown.

Nansemond River 23, Lakeland 20

Nansemond River 7 7 0 9—23

Lakeland 6 6 0 8—20

NR—Hayes 12-yard reception from Riddick (Lomax kick)

L— Edgehill 38-yard reception from Holloman (kick failed)

NR—Riddick 3-yard run (Lomax kick)

L—Hawkins 60-yard reception from Holloman (conversion failed)

NR—Lewis recovered safety

L—Holloman rush (2pt conversion)

NR—Johnson 42-yard reception from Riddick (Lomax kick)