Sometimes a defense simply can’t find a real answer, a consistent way to shut down an opposing offense. Friday night, St. Anne’s-Belfield’s speed-based defense that’s well constructed to deal with spread attacks met its match in a lot of ways when Nansemond-Suffolk’s single wing, physical offense got into a groove out of the gate in the VISAA Division II semifinal.
“This offense we went up against, you don’t see much like that so I made some mistakes setting people up,” said STAB linebacker Minor Smith.
When that happens, when the adjustments never quite get there, that’s when players just have to make plays if you want to survive and advance. Whether it was Smith with a sack or John Woodson with a big stick against NSA’s powerful fullback David Gough or the entire left side of the defense that strung out a sweep to force a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter, STAB made those plays when they had to, and pulled away for a 40-24 victory over Nansemond Suffolk to advance to the VISAA D2 state final.
“We’re not going to get toe-to-toe with them and stop them, they’re a lot bigger than we are and bigger and stronger in the way they play,” said STAB coach John Blake. “We just have to make sure when we have the opportunities that we seize them, and we did.”
It was a compelling performance by the St. Anne’s, who hadn’t been challenged, much less been in a dog fight since early October. NSA hit them in the mouth on the first play from scrimmage when Noah Giles unleashed a 61-yard touchdown on a buck sweep play that would become STAB’s nemesis much of the night. But St. Anne’s refused to back down, answering NSA with the first of several counterpunches throughout the night.
“I’m just glad they’re all playing for me, because I wouldn’t want to play against them,” Blake said. “They’ve grown up, and they know what it takes.”
The two teams were deadlocked at 24-24 with 10:29 left to play after STAB nudged ahead 24-16 on a Lee Parkhill to Jake Allen touchdown late in the third (that came after a self-inflicted safety by NSA on a bad snap) and NSA answered with a power run by Gough early in the fourth. STAB punched back again this time with a 23-yard touchdown from Parkhill to Jalen Harrison (who finished with four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown) from 23 yards out with 9:15 left, setup by a big Jake Allen run.
“We just went to our core plays because when we do that it opens everything up,” Harrison said.
Desperately needing a play that could turn the tide on defense, STAB forced NSA into a fourth and six near midfield. Out of a timeout, Nansemond-Suffolk went back to the sweep and STAB strung it out this time, preventing a first down run with a stop near the NSA sideline. St. Anne’s then ground through the clock for a few minutes before Woodson unleashed a 35-yard touchdown run that essentially put the game out of reach for NSA.
“That was the (NSA) team I expected to see the first time (STAB played them in the regular season, a 61-6 blowout),” Blake said. “I’ve got to give it to Lew (Stephens, NSA’s coach) he brought them back and they played hard today. But our kids took everything they threw at them.”
Parkhill finished the night 9 for 18 passing for 120 yards and three touchdowns, overcoming a shaky start. He found Kareem Johnson three times for 63 yards on the night. STAB’s running back by committee approach was in full effect, with Jake Allen rushing for 73 yards, Woodson for 58 and Brodie Phillips for 57 while combining for 33 carries and a 5.7 yards per carry average. Smith had an interception for the Saints in addition to a bunch of key stops to make up for those early adjustment mistakes.
STAB won’t get its coveted shot at Bishop Sullivan, the lone team to beat them this year, after the Crusaders fell to Trinity Episcopal in the other semifinal. But they’ll host the championship game Friday night against the Bears in what’s projected to be another chilly night, getting one more chance to prove just how resilient this squad can be, a program that just two years ago went 0-10 with many of the same players in key roles.
“Those guys for them to feel where we are now, that’s awesome,” Blake said, appearing to get a little emotional reflecting on the turnaround. “They worked hard, they deserve it. We deserve this one.”
