I don’t imagine Gavyn Nolan got to drive the bus for Todd County Central Thursday night as they traveled to Dixon to take on the Webster County Trojans. But he did about every thing else over the course of the night.
Led by a monster night from their senior quarterback, the Todd County Central Rebels put up big numbers, and overcame some brutal special teams play, on their way to a 55-35 win over the Trojans.
It did not take Gavyn Nolan and the Rebels’ offense long to get things rolling. After holding the Trojans on the first possession of the game, the Rebels marched down the field on a ten-play, 87-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped off on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Nolan to Antonio Fitzgerald to put the Rebels up 7-0 with 3:49 to go in the opening quarter.
Webster County looked to be on its way to getting things even on the very next possession. However, the first of two first-half fumbles for the Trojans, this one by Aden Young, gave the ball back to Todd County Central on the Rebels’ 14-yard line.
Todd Central moved the ball across mid-field but the drive stalled and the Rebels had to punt the ball away. Just two plays after the punt, Webster County coughed the ball up again, and the Rebels recovered at the Trojans’ 31-yard line.
Two plays later it was Gavyn Nolan ripping off a 27-yard touchdown run with 9:26 left in the half to make it 13-0.
Just about the time it looked like the Trojans might be in deep early trouble, lightning struck in the form of Aden Young. Young ran 62 yards to the house to cut the lead to 13-7 with 7:53 left in the half.
Todd Central struck back on the very next possession. Gavyn Nolan took off 37 yards for his second rushing TD of the night to put the lead at 19-7 with 5:30 to go in the half. And, the fireworks kept on coming.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aden Young ran it back 90 yards for a score to cut the lead to 19-14 with just nine seconds having run off the clock.
Again, the Rebels had the response. Todd Central went on an 80-yard scoring drive, finishing the drive on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Gavyn Nolan to Nate Reding, pushing the lead back out to 27-14.
Webster County would cross mid-field in the waning seconds of the half, but a 43-yard field goal came up just short as the two teams headed off to the locker room with the Rebels holding the 13-point lead.
As the two teams came back from the break, the offenses picked right back up where they left off. The Rebels took the opening kickoff of the half and drove 64 yards for a score. Gavyn Nolan hit Antonio Fitzgerald for a 29-yard score and the Rebel lead was at 35-14. Enter Aden Young once again.
For the second time in the game, Aden Young returned a kickoff for a score, this time for 70 yards and just like that it was 35-21 with 7:56 to go in the third quarter.
At that point, Gavyn Nolan said “not so fast sir.” Less than two minutes later, Nolan broke off a 58-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 41-21.
On the next possession, Todd Central stopped Webster County on 4th down and took the ball over at the 50. Did not take the Rebels long. On the first play from scrimmage, Jamarion Smith rambled 50 yards for a score to extend the lead to 48-21.
Webster County briefly had hopes of a big 4th quarter rally after scoring with 8:28 to go in the game. Jackson Edens scored on a five-yard run to cut the lead to 48-28.
But one more time, Gavyn Nolan just said “not tonight.” The Rebels chewed up more than seven minutes of clock and found the end zone again when Gavyn Nolan ran it in from 8 yards out to extend the lead to 55-28.
Coach Josh Robins will certainly have his team working on kick coverage this week as on the ensuing kickoff Sylas Gunn ran it back 90 yards for the score to trim the lead to 55-35. And, to make matters worse, the Trojans recovered an onside kick to get the ball back with 54 seconds left in the game.
But the Trojans were not able to generate another score and that is how the game would end.
Gavyn Nolan almost had a career in one night. His night reads like this: 232 yards rushing, with 4 touchdowns, 211 yards passing with three touchdowns.
Jamarion Smith added 74 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Nate Reding caught 8 passes for 115 yards and a score. Antonio Fitzgerald caught 3 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Todd County Central outgained Webster County 587 yards to 234.
Penalties were a bit of a problem as the Rebels were flagged 13 times for 100 yards.
With the win, Todd Central moves to 2-1 on the season. They will be back in action next Friday night as they go on the road to take on the Hopkins Central Storm.
One Response
Way to go Rebels