The COVID-19 depleted Pioneer team is regrouping this week for a battle against rival DeKalb County. Head Coach Matt Turner told his team that they are focusing on what the Pioneers do, not so much what DeKalb County will be doing this week. There will certainly be game-planning for DeKalb County, but with all the personnel and position changes, the Pioneers have to focus on what their general position assignments are.
Many players have been switched around from various positions to fill holes left by players out with COVID-19. Therefore, it is understandable that there will be some confusion, a learning curve for some players. The line is the most challenged, and blocking assignments have to be clarified and learned.
Obviously, learning positions and assignments is not something that a team will normally be focusing on during week eight of a football season. In this strange season, this is Warren County’s fifth game, and the Pioneers are putting different players in various positions not only on a week-to-week basis, but with the impact of COVID-19, it is a day-to-day process of figuring out who goes where in the lineup.
Twelve players were in COVID-19 isolation Friday night, and they will not return to action against DeKalb County. There are TSSAA protocols for players returning from isolation – just as there are protocols for returning from concussions. The players will have to get acclimated back to game-like conditions to before they can return to the playing field on Friday nights.
One player who will be returning this week from a physical injury is Jaythan Pleasant, who is needed at running back. Pleasant has exhibited the ability to create rushing yardage when holes are not always available on the line. An assistant coach, defensive coordinator Camron Bond will be returning from COVID-19 isolation, and he was absent Friday night at Coffee County.
The coaching staff is also waiting to see who has tested positive and negative this week. COVID-19 continues to change the projected starting lineup. Coach Turner explained the focus for the Pioneers this week. Turner said, “We are going to focus on ourselves, to work on our identity. We have a good opportunity this week to get in the weight room. We have to continue to work the next man in. You can see what we have to work with (low numbers on the practice field). Everyone has to accept the challenge and know their plays. Some players may be getting a grasp on a position, and then COVID knocks them out. It keeps trickling down.”
This is another gut-check week for the Pioneers. As Head Coach Turner has stated, “a life without adversity is not a life worth living.” How much more adversity the team will encounter is yet to be determined, and the Pioneers need every day of practice this week to prepare for DeKalb County.
