Deep Creek avoided its first 0-6 start since 1976 by defeating Nansemond River on homecoming night at Arrowhead Stadium, 27-26.

Big penalties and missed opportunities plagued the Warriors throughout the game.

In the first period, a fumble by Jalen Thrower with 7:03 left stopped a Warrior drive at the 18-yard line. A holding penalty against the Warriors stopped a 30-yard touchdown reception by Willie Ponder III with 2:19 left in the first. Neither team managed to score in the first quarter.

The first points went up on the board when Lamont Brown scored on an 8-yard rush with 1:39 left in the second quarter. The touchdown was set up on the play before, when Colin Small tackled the Hornet punter.

Deep Creek responded quickly when Previn Byrd caught a 42-yard touchdown reception with 0:05 left in the first half.

Deep Creek started the second half with a 53-yard rush to the 1-yard line by Derrick Boone. The rush set up a 1-yard touchdown for the Hornets with 9:56 left in the third quarter.

A failed fourth-down conversion by Deep Creek set the Warriors up at the midfield for their next scoring drive. Brown scored his second of three rushing touchdowns with a 1-yard rush.

Deep Creek again responded quickly to the Warriors with a touchdown of its own. An 82-yard kickoff return gave the Hornets the lead, 21-14.

A 47-yard reception by Ponder put the Warriors in scoring position at the 6-yard line to end the third quarter.

Brown scored his third touchdown with a 3-yard rush with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter. The Warriors missed what proved to be the game-deciding extra point. Brown finished the game with 26 rushes for 111 yards and three touchdowns.

The Warriors converted an onside kick and got the ball back. A near interception almost ended the Warriors’ hopes early with 7:43 left.

On the next snap, though, Morris Johnson hauled in a 23-yard touchdown reception with 7:39 left to put the Warriors ahead. The ensuing two-point conversion failed, leaving the Warriors ahead 26-21.

Deep Creek managed the go-ahead touchdown with 4:16 left on a 39-yard touchdown reception by Cameron Bertrand. The Hornets missed the two point conversion leaving them ahead 27-26.

Deep Creek’s failed onside kick and a short return by Ricky Blake gave the Warriors the ball at the Hornet 44-yard line.

The Warriors could not manage to score on a fourth-down conversion with 1:03 left, allowing the Hornets to run the clock out for the win.

Nansemond River coach Tracey Parker said, “hard fought game, they just came out on top in the end. We just have to keep working at the little things.”

The Warriors (0-6, 0-5) travel to cross-town rival Lakeland next Friday.