Source: Williamson Herald Sports
Photos: Becky Williams
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FRANKLIN – Chance Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 156 yards and threw one to Eric Harper that went for 46 yards and another score as the Nolensville High School football team escaped winless Franklin 30-20 to remain undefeated Friday night at Howard Gamble Stadium.
"A win was all we were looking for," the senior said after helping the Knights to a 9-0 record. "We started a little sluggish after the off-week, but we were able to pick it up in the second half."
Franklin gave the Knights all they wanted early, battling to a scoreless first quarter. A Sean Gaca interception of a Coby Walton gave Franklin possession early in the second quarter before Cooper Jordan busted loose for a 68-yard gain to lead to the first score, a 19-yard pass from Brewer Wilson to Lucas Young.
Walton lofted his second interception on the very next Nolensville offensive play, brought down by Thompson King. That set up Wilson's 7-yard run to put the Admirals up 13-0. King's kick was blocked by Derrick Burroughs.
"It was what we expected," Nolensville coach Paul Derrick said after the game. "Franklin is so much better than their record and they made it tough on us."
Nolensville answered less than two minutes later, capping a five-play, 60-yard drive with a 42-yard Walton to Fitzgerald scoring pass.
On Franklin's next play from scrimmage, Taylor Wein forced a fumble that Burroughs recovered and the Knights went jet sweep right with Fitzgerald who stopped suddenly and fired a strike to a wide-open Eric Harper. Harper strolled into the end zone for a 46-yard score just 17 seconds after the first Knights TD of the night. Reese Miller's extra point kick gave Nolensville a 14-13 edge late in the first half.
Derrick had complete confidence in his receiver as a passer.
"Chance is a phenomenal receiver, and you see he's a great athlete," Derrick said. "We wanted to strike quick after the turnover and he throws a 46-yard touchdown.
"You just try to get your players in the best possible position and let them play."
Fitzgerald said he played some quarterback when he was younger.
"We called that play once before and it went for a touchdown but got called back on a penalty," he said. "I was a little surprised when the coaches called that play, but I knew it was going to be open because the entire defense was yelling to watch for a jet sweep."
Nolensville added to their lead late in the third quarter when Fitzgerald was credited with his second touchdown reception of the night, a 21-yarder from Walton in the corner of the south end zone that had Franklin players, coaches and fans howling the pass was out of bounds.
Miller sealed the deal for the Knights near the six-minute mark of the fourth when he launched a punt that appeared headed for a touchback but died on the second bounce and took a sideway turn, covering 58 yards and stopping at the Franklin 1-yard line. The Nolensville defense stuffed the Admirals' first play, picking up the first safety of the year and making it a three-score game, 30-13.
Franklin refused to quit, with workhorse Rocco Panaia getting the final score of the game on a one-yard push with three minutes remaining.
Panaia and Jordan combined to punish Nolensville for 232 yards on 35 combined carries, while Zion Tamaska picked up 90 yards on 12 rushes for the Knights.
The win pushes Nolensville to 9-0 on the season, 4-0 in Region 6-5A, with a region championship date on the road at Franklin County in Winchester, next Friday night.
The Admirals, now 0-9 overall and 0-4 in Region 7-6A, finish the season next Friday night with a trip to Summit (1-8, 0-4). The Spartans are coming off their first win – a 48-0 shutout of Shelbyville Central.
Nolensville 30, Franklin 20
NHS – 0 14 7 9 – 30
FHS – 0 13 0 7 –20
Scoring Summary
2Q 9:18 FHS – Lucas Young 19 pass from Brewer Wilson (Thompson King kick);
2Q 6:58 FHS – Wilson 7 run (Kick blocked);
2Q 5:06 NHS – Chance Fitzgerald 41 pass from Coby Walton (Reese Miller kick);
2Q 4:49 NHS – Eric Harper 46 pass from Fitzgerald (Miller kick);
3Q 4:40 NHS – Fitzgerald 21 pass from Walton (Miller kick);
4Q 11:29 NHS – Samson Johnson 1 run (Miller kick);
4Q 5:42 NHS – Safety;
4Q 3:18 FHS – Rocco Panaia 1 run (Thompson kick).
Individual Statistics
Rushing – NHS 30-159 (Zion Tamaska 12-90; Samson Johnson 12-74; Chance Fitzgerald 2-0; Dylan Northcutt 1-0; Coby Walton 3-(-5)); FHS – 43-236 (Rocco Panaia 23-112; Cooper Jordan 12-110; Brewer Wilson 6-7; Jaylen Spring 2-7).
Passing – NHS 16-28-2-3 for 286 (Coby Walton 15-27-2-2 for 240; Chance Fitzgerald 1-1-0-1 for 46); FHS – 8-15-1-1 for 66 (Brewer Wilson 8-15-1-1 for 66).
Receiving – NHS 16-286 (Chance Fitzgerald 9-156; Dylan Northcutt 2-53; Eric Harper 1-46; Samson Johnson 3-28; Joseph Carrano 1-3); FHS – 8-66 (Lucas Young 4-49; Gage Wilson 1-7; Jaylen Spring 1-7; Cooper Brown 1-3; Rocco Panaia 1-0).