Nolan 24, Prestonwood 21 — passing game

Patrick Rich’s injury early in the game affected the passing game to some degree. Coach Joe Prud’homme hinted that Nolan had several plays featuring Rich that weren’t used after the senior was injured and didn’t return.

Even so, the passing game produced its moments. Rich had a 34-yard run on a reverse. Pierce Braden caught a pair of passes, including a 20-yarder on the first drive.

And of course, the 79-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Walden to David Authier.

Walden did a very good job this season, stepping in as a sophomore and  guiding the team to a title. He finished the year 43-of-93 for 578 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions. And he finished with 465 yards rushing (5.7 average) and 9 touchdowns, showing good decision-making skills on option reads.

How Patrick Rich finished among Nolan receivers in school history:

NOLAN CAREER RECEIVING YARDS

YDS	PLAYER	SEASONS		YDS	PLAYER	SEASONS
2,963	Will Gallagher	2005-07		1,129	Sean Turner	1992-93
1,360	John Pastusek	1999-00		1,121	Thomas Krsak	1997-98
1,230	Ross Gallagher	2008-09		1,061	Amyn Maloney	2009-11
1,168	Patrick Rich	2011-13

NOLAN CAREER RECEPTIONS

NO.	PLAYER	SEASONS		YDS	PLAYER	SEASONS
153	Will Gallagher	2005-07		70	Sean Turner	1992-1993
77	Patrick Rich	2011-13		70	Thomas Krsak	1997-98
76	John Pastusek	1999-2000		62	Drew Gavin	2005-07
69	Amyn Maloney	2009-11

NOLAN CAREER RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS

TDS	PLAYER	SEASONS		TDS	PLAYER	SEASONS
36	Will Gallagher	2005-07		9	Daniel Walker	2009-11
18	John Pastusek	1998-2000		9	Ben Nichols	2003-04
17	Andre Gunter	1995-96		9	Jordan Rihani	2000
14	Amyn Maloney	2009-11		9	Sean Turner	1992-93
13	Ross Gallagher	2008-09		9	Rod Howard	1989-90
13	Drew Gavin	2005-07		9	Clarence Johnson	1967-69
9	Patrick Rich	2011-13

Longest touchdown receptions

UPDATED NOV. 16, 2015: David Authier’s 79-yard touchdown reception in Tuesday’s win was among the longest in school history:

Yds.	Player	Opponent	Date
95	Andre Gunter	vs. TCA-Addison	Oct. 25, 1996
95	Richard Holmes	vs. Kennedale	Sept. 2, 1988
93	Phil Farco	vs. Kennedale	Sept. 6, 1991
92	Richard Holmes	vs. First Baptist	Sept. 29, 1990
92	Paul Brandimarte	vs. Waco Reicher	Oct. 19, 1962
88	Clarence Johnson	vs. WF Notre Dame	Nov. 22, 1968
87	Ben Nichols	vs. Dallas Jefferson	Sept. 24, 2004
87	Jeff Sakowski	vs. Denton Liberty	Oct. 3, 2003
85	Trey King	vs. Fort Worth Brewer	Sept. 12, 1980
82	Steve McWilliams	vs. Waco Reicher	Oct. 22, 1977
81	Adam Moore	vs. Argyle Libery	Nov. 14, 2015
80	Will Gallagher	vs. Argyle Liberty	Sept. 1, 2006
79	David Authier	vs. Prestonwood	Dec. 10, 2013
79	Richard Holmes	vs. Aledo	Sept. 14, 1990
78	Jordan Rihani	vs. Dallas Christian	Oct. 6, 2000
78	Chad Blankenship	vs. Lake Worth	Sept. 4, 1998

Longest interception returns for TDs

Miles Murray returns an interception 85 yards for a touchdown against TCA-Addison. (Photo by Dick Kirby)

UPDATED through Nov. 30, 2013 Miles Murray’s 85-yard interception return in Nolan’s 43-42 OT win over TCA was the third longest interception return for a touchdown in school history.

Here’s a look at the 10 longest:

95—Dakota Ferguson (vs. TCA-Addison, Nov. 6, 2009)

88—Greg Kidwell (vs. Dal. Bish. Lynch, Nov. 6, 1970)

85—Miles Murray  (vs. TCA-Addison, Oct. 4, 2013)

75—Miles Murray (vs. Argyle Liberty, Nov. 29, 2013)

67—Joe Anderson (vs. Kennedale, Sept. 7, 1990)

67—Steve Farco (vs. Mineral Wells, Sept. 20, 1985)

62—Tyler Baum (vs. Prestonwood, Dec. 4, 2010)

60—Pat Gallagher (vs. FW D-Hill, Sept. 8, 1967)

58—Ross Gallagher (vs. Dal. St. Mark’s, Sept. 5, 2008)

55–Stephen Jolissaint (vs. Houston St. Thomas, Nov. 22, 2013)