A tough King’s Fork High School defense limited the ground game of rival Nansemond River to take a 46-7 win on Friday.

Nansemond River High School had won the previous two matchups against the Bulldogs. King’s Fork was the visitor this time but constantly made itself at home at the line of scrimmage when the Warriors rushed the ball.

Prior to the game, the Bulldogs knew they had to stop the Warriors’ rushing attack, and they succeeded, limiting NRHS to negative two yards on its first 21 carries.

Offensively, the Bulldogs exploded for 39 points in the second half.

“It was a high-emotion game, because it was two Suffolk Schools,” Bulldogs coach Scottie Littles said. “I’m just super proud of the kid’s effort. They never got down. They practiced hard all week, and they stuck together. Our defense played their hearts out.”

Both teams got on the board in the first half. King’s Fork struck first with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Justin German to Sam Dunn, who was matched one-on-one against a Nansemond River defender. At the top of the second quarter, the Warriors evened the score when JaQuelle Harrell finished a Warriors drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

On the following possession King’s Fork drove the ball into Nansemond River territory before a Pheldarius Payne interception gave the ball right back to the Warriors. But Nansemond River turned it back over on the next possession, as Dunn intercepted quarterback Kori Riddick.

The teams went into the half tied at seven.

All momentum belonged to the Bulldogs in the second half. An interception by DeMarque White early in the third quarter put the Bulldogs in position to put points on the board after a turnover. German took a read-option to the house, which put the Bulldogs up 13-7 after a missed extra point.

German connected with Dunn for his second touchdown of the night, which put the Bulldogs up 20-7. On the next Bulldogs possession, German hit another 40-yard touchdown; a two-point conversion put the Bulldogs up 28-7.

In the fourth quarter, Darran Butts added two 30-plus yard touchdowns. A pick-six by Garrett Williams in the fourth quarter put King’s Fork up 46-7 and sealed the deal.

Butts finished with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns. German went 8-15 for 151 yards, with an interception and three touchdowns. He had 70 yards on the ground. Dunn finished with two touchdowns and an interception.

The defense finished with five sacks and a couple of interceptions.

“It was just us playing like us out there,” German said. “We had a good week of practice, and it paid off.”

The Warriors obviously felt there were things they could have done better. Wali Faulk credited the Bulldogs’ defense, which zeroed in on stopping him and Jaquan Brayboy.

“They came out aggressive and stacked the box,” Faulk said. “They did a good job of containing us and keeping us in check.”

Littles didn’t think the score was indicative to how good the Warriors are.

“They are a good physical football team,” Littles said. “Don’t let that score fool you. They are very good.”

King’s Fork will get ready for Great Bridge High School, while Nansemond River will prepare for Oscar Smith High School.

King’s Fork is 4-1; the Warriors are 3-2.