Winning the turnover battle usually secures a victory in football. The Warren County Middle School football team proved Tuesday it’s not the only way to win though.
The Pioneers defeated White County 32-18 in a game featuring as many turnovers as touchdowns.
Warren County was able to win despite four turnovers because White County coughed up the ball four times as well. The Pioneers recovered three fumbles and Dalton Willet added an interception.
Everything pointed to a Pioneer blowout in the opening minutes. White County went three-and-out to start the game and the Pioneers responded by scoring on their first play. Noah Campbell sprinted 46 yards for six points and James Jackson added the ensuing PAT as Warren County led 7-0.
White County followed with back-to-back fumbles that were recovered by Pioneers Zane Maxwell and Will Rowland, but the miscues were sandwiched around a fumble by Warren County at the goal line.
The Pioneers were able to take advantage of the second Warrior turnover though when Isaiah Grayson hit Christian Locke on a 27-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed though, leaving Warren County ahead 13-0 after the first quarter.
Locke was on the receiving end of another touchdown in the second quarter when he hauled in a 48-yard scoring strike from Trayton Rackley. The score gave the Pioneers a 19-0 halftime advantage.
The second half started with a Warren County fumble, setting up a White County touchdown. The Warriors busted loose on a 40-yard touchdown run to narrow the gap to 19-6.
The Pioneers and Warriors continued to play hot potato with the ball on their next drives as both fumbled. The Warrior fumble set up a seven-play scoring drive for the Pioneers that featured all runs. Rackley’s eight-yard scamper capped the 43-yard drive as the Pioneers went ahead 26-6.
White County came back with back-to-back scores to close the gap to eight. The Warriors scored on a 55-yard touchdown run, then recovered an onside kick and scored again on a 41-yard touchdown pass. White County attempted two-point conversions after both scores, but neither was successful as Warren County clung to a 26-18 lead.
The Pioneers put the game away on a four-play touchdown drive capped by a 27-yard scoring run by Grayson. Grayson finished the year as the Pioneers’ leader in touchdowns.
Coach Donnie Harris – who finished his first year  with a 3-5 record –  believed Tuesday’s game was the best he had seen his team play.
“Aside from coughing the ball up a few times, we played our most complete game of the year,” said Harris. “We had a good week of practice during our off week and it showed.”