Facing a lack of depth, the Warren County High School freshman football team couldn’t afford to lose any players in a battle against Lincoln County Ninth Grade Academy. Instead, the Pioneers lost their best player on the second play of the game.
Krojhn Calbert, who scored the team’s two touchdowns in an opening season loss to Franklin County, went down with a knee injury on the team’s first offensive snap. Without their team leader, the Pioneers fell 17-6 to NGA.
Warren County (0-2) started its season with a 20-12 loss to the Rebels at home Aug. 22. The Pioneers had two weeks to prepare for NGA, but the game plan went out the window the moment Calbert went down.
The play-making tight end and disruptive defensive end sat the rest of the game and watched as quarterback A.D. Majors and linebacker Brendon Breedlove made big plays for the Pioneers. Unfortunately the big plays came after NGA built an insurmountable lead.
The home team scored on its first drive as the Falcons kicked a field goal after starting with great field position. NGA would add a touchdown late in the first, then made it 17-0 with a second-quarter score.
The defense would hold steady the rest of the way as Breedlove was in the middle of the action. Breedlove forced a fumble and had a touchdown-saving interception in the second half. Justin Holt and Mitchell Stembridge also played well on defense while filling in at end for Calbert.
The offense was put on Majors’ shoulders as the Pioneers employed many sets with three or four wide receivers. Majors spread the ball around to Jakob Morin, Cameron Shaw, Malachi Barrett and Brandon Valazquez to get the Pioneers in scoring position late.
Warren County would break the shutout in the fourth quarter when Majors hit Valazquez on an out route that the receiver was able to turn up the field for six points. The Pioneers failed on the two-point conversion.
Coach Greg Cotten saw flashes from his team against NGA, but realizes more growth is needed for the team to pick up its first win.
“I told the team that when we win, it will be in close games,” said Cotten. “Overall, game experience and lack of depth are our Achilles’ heel. I believe we can overcome those things because this group works extremely hard and will not give up.”
The freshman team will be back at home this Thursday when the Pioneers play host to Stone Memorial at Nunley Stadium. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m.