Courtland Simmons’ second-quarter 11-yard rushing touchdown held up as the night’s only score as Norfolk Academy celebrated homecoming before a packed grandstand with a 6-0 victory over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
The Bulldogs (6-1) ran for 194 yards amid the festive atmosphere, including 160 on 16 carries by Simmons, and passed for 40. NSA completed just one pass, for 22 yards, and gained 126 rushing.
“The gut-check part of all of it was how we played on defense, so to shut them out was incredibly important,” Norfolk Academy coach Steve Monninger said. “For us to hang in there, try to make them drive the field, try to keep them off balance with some of our blitzes and so forth, that’s a testament to our defensive coordinator and our players on defense. They have a really good offensive team.”
The victory was timely for Norfolk Academy, which is ranked fourth in Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I. Four D-I schools will qualify for the state playoffs.
The Bulldogs drove from their 20 to the NSA 9 on their first possession, but Cam Bergen intercepted a Davis Steadman pass.
When Norfolk Academy next gained the ball, with 3:12 left in the first quarter, the Bulldogs drove 53 yards on eight plays. Simmons carried four times for 25 yards, including the final 11 on the opening play of the second quarter.
NSA drove for a 55-yard field-goal try, but it was short.
In the rainy second half, the Saints’ Shane Johnson intercepted a throw, giving NSA the ball at its 42. NSA drove to the 14, but a 35-yard field-goal try sailed wide right.
Norfolk Academy drove to the NSA 5 with about two minutes left, but the Saints forced a 3-yard loss on third-and-1 and a 4-yard loss on fourth down to give themselves one final try.
Colton Beale connected on a 22-yard pass for NSA’s only completion of the night but was intercepted by Reed Fox with 9 seconds remaining.
— Reported by Charlie Baumgardner
No. 3 Green Run extends Beach streak to 50
Green Run (7-0) reeled off 34 consecutive points to beat host Landstown 34-7 and capture the Stallions’ 50th straight Beach District victory.
“Great outing we had tonight,” Stallions coach Brandon Williams said. “We gave up that first touchdown but we made some adjustments, came back and started playing Green Run football.”
Landstown (2-5) took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 9-yard run by Anthony Turner.
But the Stallions pulled level less than three minutes later, following a 10-play drive capped by a 7-yard scoring strike from Luke Ashcraft to Devin Miller.
Running back Charles Jackson III powered in a 4-yard plunge to put Green Run up for good early in the second quarter. He added his second score less than five minutes before halftime.
Jackson finished with 120 yards on 20 carries. He added four catches for 47 yards.
“That’s our workhorse,” Williams said of Jackson’s performance. “We’re going to run him all the way through this playoff run and more. He’s that senior that’s hungry and you can tell by his play on the field.”
Ashcraft connected with Rashaun Savage for an 8-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter, while the Stallions’ final score came on a 1-yard plunge by Josh Stallings early in the fourth.
“We’re just going to continue to stay focused and keep working on ourselves,” Williams said. “We’ve got to work hard every day and keep each other accountable.”
— Darrell Cuenca
No. 11 Kempsville wins on homecoming
No. 11 Kempsville improved to 4-2 by winning 31-12 on its homecoming against Ocean Lakes (2-4).
Chiefs defenders Jason Galloway, Elijah McDaniel, PT Pembleton, Nasiar Dargan and Lahai Massaquoi combined for three interceptions, eight sacks and nine tackles for loss, keeping the Dolphins’ offense out of the end zone.
Senior Josh Hawley passed for 146 yards and a touchdown, and freshman TJ Cason passed for 110 yards and three touchdowns.
Receiver Jorden Mitnaul led the Chiefs with 111 yards and a TD on five receptions, and Camir Croom had eight catches for 87 yards and two TDs.
Aushawn Miles added another Kempsville score on a 10-yard touchdown reception, and Max Clatterbuck kicked a 22-yard field goal.
Lions return 3 INTs for touchdowns, top Princess Anne
Donovan Brown, Jayden Burse and Jamari Nelson returned interceptions for touchdowns during a 28-point third quarter as Tallwood rallied past Princess Anne 48-20.
Brown went 40 yards, Burse 30 and Nelson 21 — all three during a span of less than 2½ minutes. The Lions (3-3) stopped all four of PA’s third-quarter drives with an interception.
The Cavaliers (0-7) led 14-0 after Gabe Cragg threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Williams and a 23-yarder to Cameron Jones in the first quarter.
Tallwood’s Leordis Simmons and Nelson had TD runs of 13 and 4 yards, respectively, in the first half, and then TeeJay Knight added a 13-yard score in the third quarter.
Jacob Hannoll tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Wright with 9:30 left to give the Lions their largest lead at 48-14.
Extra points
- EJ Dobratz threw four touchdown passes, and Isiah Banks added a 100-yard kickoff return for a score as Norfolk Christian defeated the Central Virginia Disciples 35-14. Jonathan Newton caught two TD passes and Carson Zook added one for the Ambassadors (4-1).
- Micah Lance threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as Atlantic Shores Christian knocked off defending VISAA Division II state champion Blue Ridge 48-18 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. Collin Williams, Josh Sibley and Ben Sallee hauled in TD passes, while Bradford Colebank-Johnson, John Colebank and Tres Williams ran for scores for the Seahawks (3-4).
- Lake Taylor, ranked 14th in Hampton Roads, continued its recent tear with a 58-24 victory over Manor. The Titans (6-1, 4-0 Eastern District) have won five consecutive games and scored 39 points or more in each of those five wins.
Scoreboard
757Teamz Top 15
#1 Maury 58, Norview 0
#2 Oscar Smith 48, Deep Creek 10
#3 Green Run 34, Landstown 7
#4 Warwick 21, Woodside 0
#7 Indian River 31, #5 Nansemond River 25, OT
#6 King’s Fork 28, Western Branch 14
#9 Poquoson 54, Gloucester 6
#10 Lafayette 55, Jamestown 0
#11 Kempsville 31, Ocean Lakes 12
#14 Lake Taylor 58, Manor 24
#15 Salem 14, Kellam 0
Bay Rivers District
Smithfield 41, Grafton 14
Warhill 61, Bruton 6
Beach District
Tallwood 48, Princess Anne 20
Eastern District
Granby 15, Booker T. Washington 13
Norcom 11, Churchland 10 – game called in final minute after gunfire nearby
Southeastern District
Great Bridge 62, Grassfield 20
Hickory 56, Lakeland 0
Private schools
Atlantic Shores Christian 48, Blue Ridge 18
Norfolk Christian 35, Central Virginia Disciples 14
Greenbrier Christian 51, Fishburne Military 0
Norfolk Academy 6, Nansemond-Suffolk Ac. 0
Catholic at Hargrave Military Academy, canceled
Nondistrict
Nandua 31, Isle of Wight Academy 0
Saturday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
First Colonial at #12 Bayside, 2 p.m.
Kecoughtan vs. #13 Hampton at Darling Stadium, 10 a.m.
Peninsula District
Menchville vs. Denbigh at Todd Stadium, noon
