BY MARK MORING, Eastern Shore Post, Nov. 14, 2025
One big question heading into last Friday’s Eastern Shore District title game was whether Nandua could contain Northampton’s powerful running game.
As it turns out, they could not, as the host Yellow Jackets ran for 476 yards. But then, Northampton couldn’t stop the Warrior runners either, as Nandua racked up more than 600 yards rushing.
By the time this wild and crazy game ended — almost three hours after it began — the two teams had totaled 110 points, with Northampton coming out on top, 62-48, for its second straight district title.
Northampton (9-1), winning its ninth straight, is now the No. 2 seed in the Class 1A regional playoffs, hosting No. 7 seed Colonial Beach (3-7) Friday at 7 p.m.
The Yellow Jackets hope to become the first high school football team from the district to win a playoff game since 1995, when the Phil Robbins-coached Jackets advanced to the state championship game before losing to Powell Valley, 36-6.
Against Nandua, Jeremiah White ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Kindt. On defending the district crown, he said, “It feels great, except for giving up 48 points. But we’ll be ready for Colonial Beach.”
Elijah Hope, who ran for 61 yards and a score, agreed: “In the end, we came through. As for the defense, we’ll keep working to get it right.”
Also for the Jackets, Jerry Sturgis ran for 61 yards and two scores, Khaidn Davis ran for 135 yards and one touchdown, and Kindt threw for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns, one to White and one to Bryan James.
Northampton’s defense was led by Matthew Mullaly (seven tackles, one for loss, one interception), Corbin Etheridge (six tackles, one sack), Davis (five tackles), White (five tackles), and Justin Suarez (five tackles). Antoine White and Rodrigo Panuco each recovered a fumble.
Nandua’s rushing numbers were eye-popping. Nazere Blake ran for 293 yards and three touchdowns, Juelz Snead ran for 157 yards and two scores, and Eli Parker rushed for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Blake (15 tackles), Snead (nine tackles), and Parker (12 tackles) led the Warrior defense.
Despite trailing 42-18 late in the third quarter, Nandua remained a threat. When Blake scored on a 57-yard run with 6:35 left in the game, the Warriors trailed 49-34. If they had recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, they would have had a chance to pull within a touchdown. But two plays later, White ran 51 yards to paydirt, sealing the win.
Northampton football coach John Edney was relieved with the victory over a team that had overcome some injuries and had come on strong in the second half of the season.
“Nandua’s a good team, and they’ve got a lot of really good athletes,” Edney said, noting particularly Blake and Parker. “This was a good test for us going into the playoffs.
“Obviously, it exposed some stuff that we need to work on. Offensively, we’re clicking well, but defensively we’ve got some work to do, no doubt about it. We’ll watch the film and try to make sure we’re doing the right things moving forward.”
Nandua (4-6), which lost its first three games and five of its first seven, has been battling key injuries — including to Parker and Blake — but was a much better team in recent weeks.
“The team still showed a lot of heart and growth,” coach Trahern Vinnie said. “When things started going downhill earlier in the season, they could have given up. But the captains did a great job of preaching brotherhood and fighting for one another, and it showed with the way they continued to give it their all.
“We have a every inexperienced team, a lot of players that never played football before or have one year of playing. I know our fans want instant success, but we ask for patience as we build our culture and develop young talent.
“I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.
