The Nansemond River High School football team was represented by 16 all-conference selections this year, including seven on the first team, and David Coccoli was named PenSouth Conference football Coach of the Year.

“Even though it’s my name on it, that’s an award that the kids get,” Coccoli said of the coaching honor. “It says my name, but if the kids don’t play well, I don’t get an award, so I really give them the credit.”

The Warriors finished 7-3 during the regular season, second-best in the conference behind Hampton High School, which went 10-0.

When it comes to the top coaching accolade, Coccoli said, “Coach (Mike) Smith at Hampton, he’s gotten a lot of them,” so it was nice for Coccoli and his players to get one.

This year, Nansemond River achieved its first winning football season since 2002, and it ended the regular season with four straight dominant wins, three of which came against teams that went on to win playoff games.

“I think people noticed the job that was done this year and took notice of how we finished the year and how the program was turned around and the future of the program, but again, the kids are the ones that execute the plays, so it’s really their award,” Coccoli said.

With seven NR players making the all-conference first team, Coccoli said, “We got second-most compared to Hampton.”

“I thought it was good for us to get that,” he said, adding he thought so especially because when it comes to Nansemond River’s Peninsula conference mates, “we don’t play a lot of teams over there.”

The first-team Warriors players included senior Terrence Lambert, senior Chris Henderson, senior Thomas Jarrett Hopple, sophomore Evan Lomax, senior Demetrius Stitmon, junior Henry Moreno and senior Marquis Braimer.

Lambert carried the ball 140 times at the running back position, gaining 1,320 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Chris Henderson had 25 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns, while kicker Evan Lomax went 44-for-47 on extra points and 6-for-8 on field goals, including one as long as 40 yards.

Offensive lineman Thomas Hopple was key to facilitating Nansemond River’s productive run game, which gained 1,600 yards this season.

Defensive end Demetrius Stitmon racked up 54 tackles, 17 of them for a loss, plus 10 assisted tackles, 14 sacks and 14 hurries.

Linebacker Henry Moreno produced 55 tackles, 12 of them for a loss, plus 40 assisted tackles and two interceptions.

Defensive back Marquis Braimer registered 20 tackles, 14 pass breakups and four interceptions.

Nansemond River players making the all-conference second team included sophomore linebacker Gerard Stringer, senior center Seth Repko, senior defensive lineman Deondre Lacey, senior quarterback Kiere Landry, senior defensive back Colby Williams, punter Evan Lomax and kick returner Marquis Braimer.

Warriors receiving honorable mention were Colby Williams as an all-purpose player on defense and Deondre Lacey as an offensive lineman.