The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy football team mounted a comeback after being down 27-7 Friday night to give themselves their first win.

NSA got its first win of the season against Isle of Wight Academy after starting 0-3.

The Saints took hold of the first quarter, going up 7-0. Momentum shifted in the second quarter, as Isle of Wight Academy went up 13-7 before the lights went out at NSA’s home field. Heading into the half, IWA held a 13-7 lead.

IWA came out in the third quarter and put up another score with 8:15 left to play in the quarter. On the following possession, NSA threw an interception, and IWA capitalized off of the turnover, going up 27-7. NSA answered with another touchdown, closing the gap but still down 27-14.

But in the fourth quarter alone, NSA put up three touchdowns to come back and defeat IWA 35-34.

NSA was struggling to stop IWA’s run game early on, but Saints coach Mike Biehl made some adjustments that forced IWA to be one-dimensional. NSA was able to take advantage.

“This was certainly a game of two halves,” Saints coach Mike Biehl said. “We didn’t get much going in the first quarter after having some big plays called back for holding. A lot of momentum-swinging plays that should have been momentum-building, we missed out on.”

NSA playmakers came up big Friday night, which is what the team needs to put them in position to win games.

“I’m really proud of those guys,” Biehl said. “They kept fighting and believing in what we are doing. They just wouldn’t be denied. It was just one of those games where you’re proud to be a part of high school football. It was that good of a game.”

NSA will be back at home again this week against Portsmouth Christian School.