Windsor blanks Saints
Published 9:35 am Saturday, September 5, 2009
WINDSOR—Windsor won for the fifth straight season over Nansemond-Suffolk on Friday night, blanking the Saints 28-0.
While it kept the Dukes’ winning streak over the Saints intact, it was the first victory for Windsor head coach Chuck Parrish and a loss in the debut for NSA head coach Kevin Allen.
“It’s not about us as coaches, it’s about the players and to win the first game of the season is great for the team,” said Parrish.
Windsor scored on its first drive of the game and took advantage of four NSA fumbles to keep the Saints off the board.
The Dukes received the opening kick and marched 68 yards in nine plays, all rushing plays, for a touchdown. Quarterback Layfette Murphy and running back R.J. Edwards used shotgun option plays to chalk up gains against the Saints. Windsor finished the drive on fourth and goal from the one and Edward s taking a pitch and sweeping around the left end to score. NSA stopped Windsor on the 2-point try, leaving a 6-0 Dukes lead.
After a good kick return by Kenny Rice to the 50, Dominique Lennon tossed a screen pass to Rice for a 15-yard gain on a third-and-14 play to keep NSA’s first possession going. Lennon fumbled two plays later and Murphy recovered for the Dukes.
NSA moved the ball deeper in Windsor territory in the second quarter, only to come up empty again. Lennon completed 2-of-3 passes and the Saints got good runs from Rice, Will Crenshaw and Ryan May to get as far as 3rd and goal at the seven.
A sack moved the Saints back to the 14 and a 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Austin Winkles.
Following the blocked field goal, Windsor again turned to going entirely on the ground. Now with sophomore David Cooper alternating at quarterback with Murphy, and with Murphy playing tailback when Cooper was at quarterback, Windsor’s option game was too fast for the Saints.
Murphy carried four times for 39 yards on the drive and Cooper kept the ball on a run up the middle to score on a 7-yard run. Murphy ran in the two-point conversion and Windsor took its 14-0 lead to the half.
On NSA’s last possession of the half, Lennon scrambled out of bounds near midfield and was hit late. Lennon left the game and didn’t return. In the second half, Crenshaw took most of the snaps for the Saints with Craig Owens also playing some at quarterback.
The Saints made two more trips deep into Windsor territory in the second half, but fumbled snaps ended both chances to score.
Late in the third period, NSA’s best chance to get back in the game came after Windsor botched a snap on a punt, giving NSA the ball at the Windsor 24.
Again, the Saints moved inside the Windsor 10, but a fumbled snap was recovered by Cooper and he raced all the way to the NSA 34.
Five plays later, Edwards scored on a 20-yard run. With a two-point conversion, another run by Edwards, Windsor took a 22-0 lead with 9:11 to play.
Murphy scored on an 11-yard run with 7:03 to play to give the Dukes their final margin. Murphy finished with 19 carries for 79 yards. Edwards had 15 carries for 86 yards.
Crenshaw led NSA’s offense with 15 carries for 83 yards. Lennon was 3-for-6 passing for 25 yards. Crenshaw was 1-for-7 passing for 16 yards.
Windsor (1-0) hosts Warhill next Friday night at 7 p.m.