Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY MATTHEW HATFIELD

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Warriors Grab Huge District Win

Playing at Deep Creek Oct. 14, the Nansemond River Warriors went to Chesapeake and secured a victory that will help them immensely in power ratings for next month’s Region 5B playoffs, doubling up the host Hornets 28-14 to move to 5-2 overall.

“It was a huge win for us and definitely an all-around team effort,” Nansemond River coach Alonzo Ricks Jr. said. “We played pretty well in all three phases. The guys executed well, played hard together and it’s a credit to the players and my coaching staff for the work they put in during the week to prepare for a well-coached Deep Creek team.”

Quarterback Alkendric Overton completed 13 of 17 passes for three touchdowns and also had a rushing score. Receivers Terrell “Philly” Douglas and Jayden Bradley were the recipients of more than half of those completions. Douglas hauled in five passes for 101 yards and a score, while Bradley had two receptions for 57 yards, both going for touchdowns, to go with an interception on defense.

Not only did the Warriors intercept a Deep Creek pass, they cashed in with points off a Deep Creek fumble. Junior linebacker Ben Hanson was very influential in containing the Hornets ground attack, finishing with a team-high 14 total tackles.

Nansemond River was able to go up 21-0 on a 94-yard scoring drive, which Deep Creek answered with a touchdown to trim the deficit at 21-7 during the third period. That’s when Nick Grier went to work with a game-changing kickoff return. 

“The ensuing kickoff after they scored with seven seconds to go in the third quarter, Nick shifted the field for us and we were able to put a big drive together and score,” Ricks noted.  

“It was 21-7 and they felt like they had the momentum and that return of about 44 yards for us was to me one of the biggest plays of the game.  I’m very grateful our guys were able to answer the call there and produce against a quality team.”

To get to 6-2, the Warriors will have to win at Oscar Smith, which has won 32 straight games over Southeastern District opponents.

Big Numbers in Saints Defeat

Although Nansemond-Suffolk Academy fell short against the Norfolk Academy Bulldogs by a count of 50-33 in a TCIS matchup, senior quarterback Gabe Wansart and junior wide receiver Isaiah Fuhrmann continue to put up monster numbers.

Wansart completed 21 of 43 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns, giving him 1,741 yards and 21 TD passes on the year with just four interceptions.

Fuhrmann, who also will dazzle on the hardwood this winter for the Saints, brought in eight of those passes for 156 yards and three scores. He sits at 38 receptions for 751 yards and 12 TDs on the season, scoring multiple times in five straight games.

Lakeland Drops to 1-7

Indian River shut out Lakeland 36-0, handing the Cavaliers their seventh straight loss of the season. The Cavs were held to 83 total yards – 64 passing and 19 rushing – as the Braves bunched 27 of their points after half-time.

Lakeland (1-7) now heads into its bye week before visiting King’s Fork Oct. 28.