Nolensville routed Hillsboro 36-6 on homecoming Friday, Oct. 2, pushing the Knights to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in Region 5-5A.

It is the program's best start since its only unbeaten regular season in 2022, according to the Williamson Herald.

Senior quarterback Ryan Newell and senior running back Tristen Lithmexay led the offense. Kicker Matthew Serpas added two field goals, and the special teams unit blocked a punt for a safety as the Knights built a 29-0 lead before Hillsboro found the scoreboard.

The Knights struck first when Newell connected with DeVincenzo for a touchdown after an interception gave Nolensville a short field. That made it 7-0 with about three minutes left in the first quarter, according to Nolensville Athletics on X.

Newell doubled the lead himself in the second quarter, keeping the ball on a 29-yard rushing touchdown run through the Hillsboro defense with 5:09 remaining in the half. Serpas drilled a field goal just before halftime to send the Knights to the locker room up 17-0.

The third quarter belonged to the defense and special teams. Nolensville blocked a Hillsboro punt for a safety, stretching the margin to 19-0. Serpas then connected on a 39-yard field goal to make it 22-0 with 6:40 left in the period.

Moments later, Cade Mora recovered a Hillsboro fumble. One play after the recovery, Lithmexay punched in a 9-yard touchdown run to blow the game open at 29-0.

The Knights tacked on another score in the fourth quarter, while Hillsboro managed its lone touchdown late. The final: 36-6.

After the Sept. 25 shutout at James Lawson, head coach Scott Stidham told the Williamson Herald that turnovers drive his team's identity. He called his squad "a big believer in taking the ball away," adding that it "decides who wins the game as much as anything."

The takeaway philosophy showed again Friday. The interception that set up the opening score and Mora's fumble recovery both led directly to touchdowns.

Newell, a Bowling Green baseball commit, was a First Team All-Region 5-5A selection as a junior after throwing for 1,544 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for 751 yards, according to a Williamson Herald season preview. Lithmexay earned the same honor after rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Nolensville travels to Centennial High School in Franklin for its next Region 5-5A game.