Nolensville shut out James Lawson 21-0 on Friday, Sept. 25, to open Region 5-5A play and improve to 6-0 on the season.

Running back Tristen Lithmexay rushed for more than 200 yards and scored twice in the fourth quarter to break open a game the Knights led just 7-0 through three quarters, as the Williamson Herald reported.

The 6-0 start is the best for Nolensville since the Knights completed their only unbeaten regular season in 2022.

Quarterback Ryan Newell got the scoring started with 2:27 left in the first quarter, hitting Turner Boswell on a 14-yard pass in the back corner of the end zone. Matthew Serpas converted the extra point to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive.

That 7-0 lead held through halftime and deep into the second half. The Knights' defense kept James Lawson off the scoreboard with a pair of interceptions. Brennan Bialek stepped in front of a receiver and picked off a pass at the Nolensville 7-yard line with nine seconds left in the first half. Cole Creciun added another in the third quarter, reading the quarterback's eyes and snagging the ball over his head to end a Lawson drive that had started at the Nolensville 39.

Lithmexay finally gave the Knights breathing room in the fourth quarter. He capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:30 remaining. Then he punched in a 7-yard score with 3:05 left. Serpas converted both extra points.

"In the first half, we started a little slow. We got back in the locker room and fixed some things up in the second half," Lithmexay said.

Stidham credited the offensive line. The second-year head coach said the group wore down Lawson's defense after halftime. Newell finished with more than 60 passing yards and added 45 rushing yards. The Knights piled up nearly 280 yards on the ground as a team.

Nolensville has outscored its last two opponents 52-0 and has three shutouts this season.

The Knights host Hillsboro in a Region 5-5A matchup in Week 7. Hillsboro lost 28-7 to Lebanon on Friday, Sept. 25.