Nansemond-Suffolk Academy picked up right where it left off last Friday. A 40-16 victory last week gave way to a 44-7 home-opening victory over Christchurch School last night.

“I would categorize it as complete win,” NSA head coach Lew Johnston said.

He said the Saints dominated in all three phases of the game.

Johnston gave special credit to his defense, saying Christchurch “had one time they got the ball on our side of the 50.”

Junior defensive end Camden Sutton recovered a fumble in the third quarter and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. The Saints defense also picked off Christchurch quarterback Braeden Rosell three times, with interceptions by sophomore defensive back Morgan Wentz, senior corner back Michael Tyler Lepore and junior defensive end C.J. Patterson.

Offensively, NSA never punted, and followed up every touchdown with either a successful two-point conversion or an extra point.

It was a big night for junior fullback David Gough, who ran 14 times for 112 yards, three touchdowns and one two-point conversion.

Johnston said, “They were more concerned with Addison (Peak) and Noah (Giles),” who typically run on the outside, so the middle, which is Gough’s domain, remained open.

Peak still got in on the action, however, kicking off the scoring in the first quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run.

The running game was not the only part of the offense that was finding success, though.

“I was really pleased with the passing game,” Johnston said, highlighting senior quarterback Jackson DeMello, who threw seven times with five completions for 96 yards and a touchdown.

DeMello found Lepore for a 45-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Nansemond-Suffolk racked up a total of 323 yards on offense, 227 of them coming on the ground, while limiting Christchurch to 111 yards total. The Saints accumulated this advantage despite possessing the ball for about six minutes less than their opponents.

NSA pushed on after losing key senior wingback/linebacker Jack Russell for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in last Friday’s game.

“I was real proud of them,” Johnston said. “Without it being said, they dedicated the game and the season to Jack.”

Russell was present at the game and plans to be with the team for the duration of the season.