A Marvancy Johnson 4th quarter touchdown run powered the Tullahoma Wildcats past Nolensville in the first round of the 5A playoffs Friday night at Wilkins Stadium.
Nolensville opened the game with a 15 play 72 yard drive that chewed 7:30 minutes off the clock but ended up with no points as Joshua Kuhlmann missed a 25 yard field goal.
From there the game settled into a defensive battle as the Wildcats went three and out four times and ran the clock out on the half in their 5 first half possessions. Nolensville also had a 12 play drive and 10 play drive sandwiched around punts but again came away with out points thanks to a Will Hyden interception and a missed 29 yard field goal by Kuhlmann.
Despite positive starting position for both teams on several drives in the third neither offense found it’s footing to the third keeping us scoreless heading to the final twelve.
After backing up Nolensville inside the 10 on their opening drive of the 4th and then forcing a three and out the Cats took over at the Knight 42 yard line and on the first play of the drive Marvacy Johnson found a seam off left tackle and raced 42 yards to the endzone to break the stalemate with 9:05 left to play.
Tullahoma padded their lead late on a Grant Chadwhick field goal with 1:33 to play and then held off the final push from the Knights to pick up the 10-0 win.
With the victory the Wildcats improve to 8-3 on the season and advance to face the Region 6-5A Champion Page Patriot’s, who crushed Franklin County 50-14, in the second round of the 5A playoffs next Friday in Fraklin. Coverage, presented by Tennessee Homes, begins at 6:30 with the Lester Green McCord and Thoma Wildcat Countdown, kickoff follows at 7:00 on 93.9 The Duck.
