Nolensville Defeats Portland, Advances to 2nd Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time for the first round of the TSSAA playoffs as there were an assortment of exciting matchups this week. To kick off my coverage for the first week of postseason play, I stopped by Nolensville High School to watch the Knights face off against the Portland Panthers. After catching the Knights' 30-6 win over the Panthers, here's my full game recap and my top performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Performers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1607186"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690d7d367e6bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the first place spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='1607186' first='Jake' last='Sentell'], a defensive lineman/edge at Nolensville High School. Sentell made a huge difference defensively, showcasing his ability to use his size and strength to overpower the offensive line. Sentell also stood out with his ability to read the offense like a book and consistently sack the quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["540040"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690d7d367e755"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most explosive playmakers to showcase his talent was [player_tooltip player_id='540040' first='Oliver' last='Bender'], a wide receiver/tight end at Nolensville High School. Bender was unstoppable down the stretch, hauling in a number of challenging passes. Bender also impressed me with his ability to elevate off the ground to catch the ball. Bender was a major scoring weapon for the Knights, hauling in two touchdowns on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1675671"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690d80fdcf466"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Establishing himself on both sides of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='1675671' first='Josh' last='Hicks'], a defensive back at Nolensville High School. Hicks was locked in during the second half and made several outstanding plays. In addition to recovering a fumble, Hicks picked off the offense and ran it 40 yards the other way. The senior defensive back also made his presence known as a running back, punching his way into the house for the touchdown in the fourth quarter of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ryan Newell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Nolensville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690d80fdcf537"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Showcasing his talent under center was Ryan Newell, a quarterback at Nolensville High School. Newell played extremely well all game long, making a number of impressive passes, including a few touchdown throws. Newell also stood out with his ability to adapt to pressure and run the ball into enemy territory himself. Newell had a number of impressive runs throughout the second half to help convert on third-down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tristen Lithmexay","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Nolensville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690d80fdcf5cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming in at number five on my list of top standouts is Tristen Lithmexay, a running back at Nolensville High School. Lithmexay was a gamechanger for the Knights on the ground, finding his way into the endzone in the first half to give his team the lead. Lithmexay also came in clutch during third-down, using his size and durable edge to stay on his feet and fight for those extra yards in crunch time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Recap</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Portland would strike first as Alex Nyswonger found an opening in the defense and took it all the way to the house for the touchdown. The Panthers tried for two but the attempt was no good as Portland took a 6-0 lead over Nolensville. The Knights would quickly take a 7-6 lead over the Panthers as Nolensville got things going offensively with a few seconds left in the first quarter. A handoff to Tristen Lithmexay from a few yards out resulted in a touchdown and helped the Knights take the lead. Nolensville was back on the scoreboard with a little under two minutes left to play before the half as a beautiful pass from Ryan Newell to [player_tooltip player_id='540040' first='Oliver' last='Bender'] resulted in another touchdown for the Knights. At the half, Nolensville led Portland 14-6. The Knights would extend their lead over the Panthers with a field goal in the third quarter to lead 17-6. At the top of the fourth quarter, Nolensville found their way back into the endzone as [player_tooltip player_id='1675671' first='Josh' last='Hicks'] marched into the house from a few yards out to give the Knights a 24-6 advantage. Portland's offense got into trouble on their next drive as a deep pass was picked off by Hicks, who would take it 40 yards down the field to set up the offense in prime scoring position. Newell would once again find Bender in the endzone for the touchdown pass as Nolensville was up 30-6 on Portland. The Knights would go on to defeat the Panthers and advance to the second round of the TSSAA playoffs. Nolensville will face off against the winner of Henry County/Overton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->