Warriors knock off Tigers for the first time since ’02

SUFFOLK — There’s a new king of the Southeastern District.

Behind the power of a running game that pounded out 233 yards and quarterback Alkendric Overton throwing for 242 more, No. 7 Nansemond River defeated No. 5 Oscar Smith 42-28 Friday night. It was the first time the Warriors topped the Tigers since 2002.

“Everything they threw at us, we responded,” Warriors coach Alonzo Ricks Jr. told his team after the game.

After the team gathering, he delivered more messages that he hopes his team will take into consideration.

Paraphrasing, Ricks shared the main message. “Stay humble. It’s from 1 Peter 5: 6. I say it every day.”

The Warriors almost built an insurmountable lead just before halftime, but Oscar Smith, which twice scored on either the ensuing kickoff or first play from scrimmage after a Nansemond River TD, continued to fight back. Alvin Jones delivered both the return and a 51-yard receiving touchdown.

But the Tigers would shoot themselves in the foot. Penalties had been a problem for them in previous games, but the costliest were four personal fouls in the second half Friday night. On one, coming on a Nansemond River third -and-17, Overton connected on a 15-yard pass to Karon Madison, who was flipped over by a Smith defender. However, a penalty was called, giving the Warriors a first down at midfield, at which point they were able to run out the clock with six running plays.

The Warriors came out with a purpose from the opening drive, putting their speed to the test against Oscar Smith’s size. They won the first matchup as Nick Grier burst through the middle and outran the defense for a 73-yard touchdown. William Monument’s extra point gave Nansemond River an early 7-0 advantage.

Oscar Smith countered with a heavy dose of Brandon Nesbit, a running back who transferred from Deep Creek. Nesbit carried six straight times. He fumbled and recovered the ball on the fifth carry, but on the sixth, he was hit from behind and lost the ball again. Manny Ezeogu recovered at the Warriors’ 22.

With Overton completing all five of his passes for 62 yards and adding a 15-yard scramble, the Warriors put together a nineplay, 82-yard drive, punctuated with a 13-yard TD pass from Overton to Josiah Johnson.

The 14-0 score at the end of the first quarter was surprising enough, but on Nansemond River’s opening drive of the second quarter, Overton went over the top to find Johnson again, this time for 40 yards to the Smith 10. After an offsides penalty halved the distance, a Nansemond River team beaming with newfound confidence punched the ball into the end zone on three plays, with Damonta Bassett traveling the last 2 yards with a punch through the middle to give the hosts a 20-0 lead.

Jim McGrath, 757-813-3809, james. mcgrath@virginiamedia.com