 Nolensville Knights head coach Scott Stidham joins host Tate to break down a dominant 31–0 shutout of the Hendersonville Commandos in the first round of the playoffs. Coming off their only loss of the year (to Page, after a 9–0 start), Stidham says the team had a “little hangover” on Monday. By midweek they had refocused on a Hendersonville squad he calls big, physical and well coached, with a dangerous Wing-T offense. Senior Tristan Lythmossa led the way with 72- and 22-yard rushing touchdowns and a 52-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Ryan Newell threw two TD passes, including a roughly 49-yarder to Lincoln Gleason, and Jonathan Wright added yards on the ground. Stidham keeps coming back to the same point: this team has no Mr. Football candidate, just “a bunch of unselfish kids” who don’t care who scores, and it starts with the five offensive linemen.

The defense was just as strong. Caden Woodard had two interceptions; Stidham jokes that Woodard had been “leading the world in pass breakups,” which the coach calls dropped picks. Brennan Vialak returned a fourth-down interception 35 yards, and Stidham laughs that he’d have been mad if it hadn’t gone for yards, since the team is coached to knock those balls down. Jake Sintel and Tyler Barth disrupted things up front, and Stidham gives credit to a scout team that steadily got better at running Hendersonville’s offense in practice. Kicker Matthew Surpass went 4-for-4 on PATs, hit a 32-yard field goal, had three touchbacks and a 47-yard punt. Stidham calls him a real weapon and “a football player that just happens to kick.” Next, the 10–1 Knights go on the road to Clarksville to face the 10–1 Kirkwood Cobras and quarterback Miles Redding, a player Stidham nominated for Mr. Football. His message for the week is to not get satisfied, get healthy and prepare like normal. Tate signs off by calling it the round-two game to circle.

 

&nbsp;Nolensville Knights head coach Scott Stidham joins host Tate to break down a dominant 31&ndash;0 shutout of the Hendersonville Commandos in the first round of the playoffs. Coming off their only loss of the year (to Page, after a 9&ndash;0 start), Stidham says the team had a &ldquo;little hangover&rdquo; on Monday. By midweek they had refocused on a Hendersonville squad he calls big, physical and well coached, with a dangerous Wing-T offense. Senior Tristan Lythmossa led the way with 72- and 22-yard rushing touchdowns and a 52-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Ryan Newell threw two TD passes, including a roughly 49-yarder to Lincoln Gleason, and Jonathan Wright added yards on the ground. Stidham keeps coming back to the same point: this team has no Mr. Football candidate, just &ldquo;a bunch of unselfish kids&rdquo; who don&rsquo;t care who scores, and it starts with the five offensive linemen.
The defense was just as strong. Caden Woodard had two interceptions; Stidham jokes that Woodard had been &ldquo;leading the world in pass breakups,&rdquo; which the coach calls dropped picks. Brennan Vialak returned a fourth-down interception 35 yards, and Stidham laughs that he&rsquo;d have been mad if it hadn&rsquo;t gone for yards, since the team is coached to knock those balls down. Jake Sintel and Tyler Barth disrupted things up front, and Stidham gives credit to a scout team that steadily got better at running Hendersonville&rsquo;s offense in practice. Kicker Matthew Surpass went 4-for-4 on PATs, hit a 32-yard field goal, had three touchbacks and a 47-yard punt. Stidham calls him a real weapon and &ldquo;a football player that just happens to kick.&rdquo; Next, the 10&ndash;1 Knights go on the road to Clarksville to face the 10&ndash;1 Kirkwood Cobras and quarterback Miles Redding, a player Stidham nominated for Mr. Football. His message for the week is to not get satisfied, get healthy and prepare like normal. Tate signs off by calling it the round-two game to circle.
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Growing up in a coaching family and now the owner of Mathews Team Sports, Tate Mathews brings a unique perspective to High School Sports Saturday.

With over fifteen years in the sporting goods industry in Middle Tennessee working with and for high school administrators and coaches, Tate’s relationships provide insight into middle Tennessee high school athletics.

High School Sports Saturday covers each sport during their respective competitive seasons.  Coaches, administrators, TSSAA officials and student-athletes are interviewed each week at 8 AM on 104-5 The Zone.