St. Anne's-Belfield reaches State Championship Game
A loss by St. Annes-Belfield to Nansemond-Suffolk last week meant a return trip to Suffolk for a VISAA semi-final playoff matchup. The visiting Saints left no doubt this time with a 26-0 shutout win, which sends them to the state championship next week at North Cross. Junior running back Jonah Brent rushed for three touchdowns, and the defense pitched a shutout.
The 1st quarter was scoreless, and neither team scored until St. Annes-Belfield put together a 9-play, 50-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Brent. The next time St. Annes-Belfield got the ball, they drove 65 yards in 10 plays, with the key play being a 31-yard reception from Haden Morris to Jonas Biehs to the 1-yard line. Brent scored from 1 yard out, but the extra point was missed.
St. Annes-Belfield scored on both drives following the halftime break and led 26-0 with 6:14 to go in the 3rd quarter. Brent scored from 18 yards out, and Morris completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Nafeese Summers.
Brent finished with 65 yards rushing, and Morris had 146 yards and a passing touchdown.
The St. Annes-Belfield defense held Nansemond Suffolk Academy to less than 100 yards in total offense. Junior AJ Wiltshire had two interceptions, and junior edge Nate Wilson had a couple of deflections at the line of scrimmage.
The home Saints were missing quarterback Madden Gilliatt, who accounted for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the win last week. The backup quarterbacks completed only 3 of 16 passes with three interceptions.
The 9-1 road warrior Saints will now travel to Roanoke to face North Cross for the VISAA DII championship.