Running game grinds down TCA-Addison’s defense, turnovers stifle its offense
ADDISON — From its 7-yard-line, Fort Worth Nolan had a brisk northerly wind at its back. It needed to protect and extend its one-score lead over TCA-Addison late in the fourth quarter.
And that’s what No. 2 Nolan did, covering 93 yards in 17 plays to cement a 28-7 TAPPS 1-I victory at Tom Landry Stadium on Friday night.
The march, all on the ground, ate up a chunk of the fourth quarter and kept TCA-Addison quarterback Daniel Davidson off the field. On its clinching drive, Nolan converted two fourth-and-1s on powerful runs by running back Luke Alves.
Alves scored on a 5-yard run with 1:26 remaining as Nolan improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in TAPPS 1-I. No. 5 TCA-Addison fell to 3-2 and 0-1.
Nolan coach Joe Prud’homme said he wanted his team to play keep-away or pin TCA-Addison deep with a punt.
“It’s old school, but that’s what we do,” Prud’homme said of his ball-control ground game. “It was three yards … three yards and a cloud of black pebbles.”
TCA-Addison coach Steve Hayes said his team had missed opportunities (five turnovers), but the difference was Nolan’s ability to control the ball.
“They did a super job of keeping it out of our hands,” he said. “[That drive] was a whopper — 95 yards and a touchdown. That was a killer.”
Nolan had 266 yards of total offense — all on the ground. Alves rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Running back David Authier had a 50-yard scoring run late in the second quarter.
Davidson threw his 18th touchdown pass of the season to Brock Thomas to give TCA-Addison the lead with 7:45 before halftime.
But a 17-yard TCA-Addison punt set up Nolan at midfield. On the next play, Authier took a pitchout from quarterback Joseph Prud’homme, swept left, found a seam and scored.
On TCA-Addison’s next possession, Davidson fumbled at his 23 and Nolan took over. Alves found an opening up the middle and scored from 15 yards out. McCaleb Taylor’s extra-point kick with 2:31 left before halftime gave Nolan its 14-7 lead.
Davidson had TCA-Addison on the move early in the fourth quarter, but Nolan’s Jeremy Freyre intercepted at the 7, setting up Nolan’s game-clinching march.
Davidson, who threw for 4,277 and 44 touchdowns last season, was only 14-of-31 for 170 yards and three interceptions.
