The Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School football team has gotten the better of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in recent years, and by at least one standard they should have done so again on Friday night.

But the Saints wouldn’t have it. They built up a 30-point lead by halftime and withstood the visiting Crusaders’ third-quarter rally to win 50-32.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them,” NSA coach Lew Johnston said of his players.

He noted that they faced a Bishop Sullivan defensive line that consisted of five players who weigh more than 300 pounds, while the Saints’ biggest player is senior Jack Johnson at 240 pounds.

“Our kids just played with heart,” Johnston said. “It was ‘Hoosiers’ all over again — the little guys beat up the big guys.”

Nansemond-Suffolk generated 512 yards of total offense, 489 of which came on the ground.

Senior running back Noah Giles has put up some statistics previously this season more often found in a video game than in real life, but his play on Friday night raised the bar even higher. He carried the ball 23 times for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two 2-point conversions.

The Saints have held leads at halftime against the Crusaders before, only to see Bishop Sullivan roar back in the second half to claim the win.

Johnston said he reminded his players of this on Friday at the half, emphasizing to them that the Crusaders were not going to back down.

Sure enough, the Crusaders’ rally began shortly after halftime.

“They showed in the third quarter what they really should have shown in the whole game,” Johnston said. “Our kids didn’t wear out. They kept taking the fight to them.”

Though Bishop Sullivan scored 20 points in the third period, senior fullback Cole Christiansen helped NSA maintain its cushion on the scoreboard by running for a touchdown.

He finished the game with eight carries for 76 yards and three touchdowns.

Saints senior Noah Serianni finished with three carries for 27 yards and a touchdown, and senior running back Graham Moore had seven carries for 37 yards and a 2-point conversion.

Leading Nansemond-Suffolk on defense was senior linebacker Daniel Griffith with eight tackles and two sacks, while junior linebacker KeShaun Moore had seven tackles and Serianni had six.

On their final possession of the game, the Crusaders chose to kneel the ball and run out the clock.

“They lost all the fight in them,” Johnston said. “They were ready to go home.”

As for why this game went differently from past contests against Bishop Sullivan, Johnston said it was better coaching and put the spotlight on his assistant coaches.

“What a tremendous staff I have,” he said. “These assistant coaches are just outstanding. We out-coached (Bishop Sullivan). That’s a credit to my assistants.”

Nansemond-Suffolk (4-1) visits St. Anne’s-Belfield School next Friday night.