Nansemond-Suffolk Academy came to an agreement with St. Anne’s-Belfield School to move their meeting on the gridiron up to Thursday due to the threat of significant inclement weather this weekend.

NSA coach Lew Johnston said he and his team have a motto in the face of changing situations like the present one.

“We just adjust on the run and keep going,” he said. “The bottom line is we get to play.”

Nansemond-Suffolk (4-1) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (2-2) – 5 p.m.

2014 regular season: SAB Saints 61, NSA Saints 6

2014 state semifinals: SAB Saints 40, NSA Saints 24

 

The Nansemond-Suffolk Saints have not forgotten about what the St. Anne’s-Belfield Saints were able to do against them last year.

“They’re in our minds, and they’re in our eyes,” Johnston said, noting he has shown his players the image of their home scoreboard from the night of Sept. 26, 2014 when it read 61-6 in favor of the visitors.

NSA improved its showing against St. Anne’s slightly in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state semifinals on Nov. 7 in Charlottesville, but the local Saints squad still fell well short, 40-24.

Coming into Thursday’s contest, “We made it a point that this is a payback game,” Johnston said. “We’ve had a great week of practice, even if it’s been abbreviated.”

He said he has pointed out to his players that teams in college and the NFL play on Saturday or Sunday and turn around and play on Thursday.

“We can do that,” he said.

St. Anne’s finished as the state runner-up last year but has since lost a lot of players due to graduation.

“They’ve got pretty much a brand new team, quite honestly,” Johnston said.

Nansemond-Suffolk must contend with some talented players, including senior wide receiver/defensive end Jalen Harrison and senior wide receiver/strong safety/outside linebacker Kareem Johnson.

“We’re going to have to get some pressure on whoever the quarterback is,” Johnston said, adding the weather could also be a factor in hindering the St. Anne’s passing game.

NSA will be without sophomore offensive guard Chris Murphy for an estimated four to six weeks due to injury.

“He could possibly be out for the rest of the year, so that means that Trent Taylor and Connor King, who both start on the defensive line, will alternate at the offensive guard position,” Johnston said.