Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s football team took a 41-24 loss to North Cross School on Friday on the road.

The Saints have been on the road for back-to-back weeks to start the season, and they are now 0-2. NSA traveled to Roanoke on Friday to take on North Cross.

NSA had wanted to avoid a slow start for the season.

“I think it took us to long to get started,” Saints coach Mike Biehl said. “We didn’t have an answer for their run game early on. Credit to North Cross, but it took us too long to get efficient.”

Execution has been something NSA has emphasized week to week. At times, the Saints show their big-play ability as a team, but it hasn’t been consistent enough or early enough.

Biehl expects his team to shake off this loss when they get back to work this week. NSA knew it was going to be in for some tough games at the beginning of the schedule. Three of their first four games are on the road.

“We just have to turn it up a notch,” Biehl said. “Everything we do comes back to practice. We will get back focused for next week.”

Biehl was pleasantly surprised with the production he got from running back George Pettaway. Pettaway rushed for more than 100 yards, and Biehl plans to incorporate more ways to get him touches in the future.

NSA will be on the road again Saturday to face Christchurch School at 1 p.m.