Blackman’s defense dominates in 42-7 win over Nolensville

Friday night's matchup between the Blackman Blaze (3-0) and Nolensville Knights (2-1) looked like a great game on paper, but that's not how it went. The Blaze defense led the way with three interceptions, a pick-six and a blocked field goal returned for a score. In the end, Blackman won 42-7 on the road in a statement win.   The Knights punted on their opening drive before the Blaze drove nearly 80 yards, ending in a one-yard touchdown run by [player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance'].   They drove down quickly again, a few drives later, and stood at the one-yard line for first and goal. They were stopped twice, but senior Jabari Kemp would not be denied a third time, muscling his way into paydirt to put his team up 14-0.   That's when the Blackman secondary went nuclear. On the next drive, 2026 cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1614217' first='Jaden' last='Lark'] jumped a route on first down, intercepting the pass and taking it to the crib for a pick six.   Down 21-0, Nolensville needed to score some points to keep this thing competitive. They drove into the red zone, but had to settle for a field goal attempt. That's fine. You get points on the board and then get a stop on defense, right?   The Blaze front wall blocked the kick, and then Lark struck again, picking the ball up and returning it 80 yards for the score. Two minutes later, [player_tooltip player_id='1103038' first='Brylan' last='Oduor'] hauled in a touchdown pass to head into halftime with Blackman leading 35-0.   The Blaze wanted to score one more time for good measure, as they drove down the field with only a few minutes remaining in the third quarter. Signal caller Jaevion Elliot took a QB keeper to his right and scampered in for another touchdown to lead 42-0.   Nolensville would eventually get on the board with 11:57 remaining in the game, but that was all, as the Blackman Blaze cruised to a 42-7 win. Matt Kreisky's squad moves to 4-0, the first time BHS has done that since 2018.   Player of the Game    It would be foolish to give this award to anyone else besides Lark. The senior DB had a sensational performance, intercepting two passes, returning one for a score and then recording an 80-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown.   He displayed excellent coverage skills tonight, locking down the right side of the field for the duration of the game. Lark has solid footwork while showcasing good ball-hawking skills, nice athleticism and playing sound coverage.    Other Notable Names     2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1589509' first='A'Darien' last='Davis'] – Blackman   Davis had somewhat of a quiet night on the stat sheet, but his play in the secondary allowed the defensive front to feast and keep Nolensville's offense sputtering. The safety plays a great center field where he limits deep passes. When they do throw his way, it's usually a batted ball or a hard hit to jar the ball free.   Since he's a physical player, he can walk up and play in the box. Davis is a good tackler who's smart in the back end of the defense while playing all over the place for the Blaze.   2026 QB Jaevion Elliot – Blackman   Elliot was a good addition to Kreisky's squad during the offseason. He's a dual-threat quarterback who excels on the ground due to his good speed, excellent vision and the ability to read defenders well.   He's also a solid passer who can do damage through the air. Elliot was exactly what Blackman was missing the last few years at the quarterback position and is a big reason they're starting 4-0.   2027 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1648682' first='James' last='Stewart'] – Blackman   The 2027 defensive lineman had himself a nice game on Friday. He pressured the quarterback well, clogged the run lanes and even made a couple of tackles for loss.   Stewart has a nice frame with plenty of strength, good footwork and consistently gets off blocks to make plays. He's a physical player who does his job well as a defensive lineman, leading to success as a whole defense.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/25-Micah-Nance-e1704579638300-crop-2587x1699-1757738935.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1885274" /></figure>   2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance'] – Blackman   The Blaze running back had a solid game against the Knights. He's electric as a tailback with true track speed, while showcasing nice footwork and vision. Nance is also built well and can be a bowling ball if needed.   He offers explosiveness as a runner and out of the backfield. His cuts and ability to navigate his way through running lanes are two things that stick out to me. Nance is just a sophomore, but don't be surprised if this young player turns into one of the best RBs in the state soon.

Friday night's matchup between the Blackman Blaze (3-0) and Nolensville Knights (2-1) looked like a great game on paper, but that's not how it went. The Blaze defense led the way with three interceptions, a pick-six and a blocked field goal returned for a score. In the end, Blackman won 42-7 on the road in a statement win.