Unlike the glamorous skill positions of football: quarterback, running back and wide receiver, offensive lineman is often the position noticed the least.

They aren’t the players who score touchdowns or return interceptions, but on Friday night, they were a big reason the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Saints won 34-0 against Norfolk Christian in the Tidewater Conference opener for the Saints.

Creating huge holes for the Saints many running backs and tightening up around the goal line, the offensive line helped NSA run for 218 yards on 33 carries for the night.

“I knew that our offensive line was a good, powerful line,” said head coach Kevin Allen. “We did a good job of pounding the ball in there and then running the play action.”

The Saints sent a message early in the game as Kenny Rice cut up the middle and sprinted to the endzone for a 52-yard touchdown at the 8:58 point in the first half.

NSA had excellent execution in the game, shown when the Saints recovered a botched snap on a punt by Norfolk Christian. The Saints recovered the ball at the Ambassador 18, then received five more yards on an offsides penalty.

It took the Saints’ running game only two plays to get into the end zone, as fullback Ryan May fought his way across the goal line to give NSA a 14-0 lead.

The Saints started the second quarter with a 38-yard completion as Domonique Lennon and Josh Todd connected for the first of three times on the night.

Two minutes later Ryan May made his way into the end zone again as he followed his offensive line all the way across the goal line for a touchdown. The Saints would take a 21-0 lead.

May finished the game with 30 yards on seven carries though he had more impact on the game than what his stat line tells.

Will Crenshaw sealed the game for the Saints in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard touchdown run making the score 27-0. Crenshaw had a game-high 123 yards on just eight carries.

“I liked their play. They came out and did the things they needed to do, so I was pleased,” said Allen. “They’re constantly getting better every week.”

Nansemond-Suffolk (2-1, 1-0) hosts TCIS opponent Bishop Sullivan Catholic next Friday evening at 7 p.m.