CHESAPEAKE — Sixth-ranked Nansemond River came into Friday’s game against No. 14 Western Branch on a mission.
The Warriors wanted to dominate the game in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams.
They also wanted to send a message.
Mission accomplished as the Warriors rolled to a 40-6 win.
The Warriors (3-0) were led by Syracuse commit Tyrell Grant, who accounted for 259 total yards and four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing.
“We were talking about this game all week,” he said. “The biggest thing was to just come out here and execute. We didn’t want to overcomplicate the game and make it more than it is.”
Kicker William Monument got the Warriors on the board first with a 21-yard field goal.
Grant added to their lead on the next possession with a 41-yard touchdown run as he went right up the middle of the Western Branch defense.
That was followed by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Keontae Bumpers.
Keontae Bumpers 17 TD pass from Tyrell Grant. Nansemond River 17, Western Branch 0 pic.twitter.com/1EdEl1fk6k
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) September 20, 2025
Grant added a 3-yard touchdown run before the half to give Nansemond River a 25-0 lead.
“We’re thankful to the front five and our blocking back, Shakuan Cook. We just came out here and executed,” Grant said. “We just came out and played good ball against a good team.”
The second half was more Nansemond River as running back Ethan Welton added a 42-yard touchdown run, Grant and Bumpers hooked up for another touchdown, and the rout was on.
The defense also played well as it kept the Western Branch, which came in averaging 43 points a game, in check.
Western Branch running back Amari Harmon (6) is wrapped up by Nansemond River defenders Travis Freeman (9), Shakuan Cook (21) and Jaemarree Parker (3). Nansemond River defeated Western Branch 40-6 at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Sept. 19, 2025. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
The only low point for the Warriors was that they couldn’t hold onto the shutout as Western Branch scored a touchdown with 11.1 seconds left.
“We shouldn’t have given up that touchdown. They’re going to hear my mouth about that,” joked Nansemond River coach Alonzo Ricks Jr. “But (this win) means everything. We came out here and we dominated. Our defense played lights-out, and our offense was prolific. We executed and did what we needed to do.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
