WCHS offensive coordinator Kenny Shultz is confident in this team as the Pioneers prepare for their first region battle of the season tonight in Rutherford County against Rockvale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Warren County football team is 2-0 for the second time in four years and, with a win, will improve to 3-0 for the first time in 13 seasons.

Shultz said, “This is not a 6-4 team. I honestly believe if we line up and do our job, we can play with anybody.” 

Warren County will face a deep, 112-man football team in Rockvale. Only one player plays both ways for the Rockvale Rockets, but all 11 of their defensive players will be looking out for No. 1 on the Pioneers, C.J. Taylor. 

And they should be. According to MaXpreps, Taylor is second in the state in rushing with 397 yards and 14th in the nation.

Many have heard C.J. received his first Division 1 offer this week from Mississippi State. What everyone may not know is coach Shultz is planning on a few new wrinkles tonight against Rockvale (1-1), which is coming off a 20-17 win over Franklin County. 

Unfortunately, only 200 Warren County fans can purchase tickets to the game. What those 200 fans will see are some changes during Warren County’s first 10 plays. It is a safe bet C.J. Taylor will not be rushing with the ball on all 10 plays. Expect something different – like some passes.

Coach Shultz said his offense is familiar with Rockvale’s new defense. The Pioneers faced that same 3-3 stack defense at DeKalb County. The offensive line will have similar assignments against Rockvale. 

Pioneer linemen will include: Kaden Jordan at left tackle, Dean Galloway at left guard, Braden Bottoms at center, Douglas Wells at right guard, Dayton Jernigan at right tackle, and Aiden Cummings at tight end.  

Coach Shultz said there should be more involvement with the tight end against Rockvale, and Cummings is healthy for this game. Aaron Ashburn will also see significant playing time at tight end.

There are two Rockvale defenders, No. 37 Cole Geeting and No. 16 Jierre Queary, that Warren County fans should keep an eye on. Rockvale head coach Rick Rice has high praise for Geeting, the only Rocket who plays both ways. 

If those two players make a lot of tackles, Warren County may not be putting a lot of points on the board. Geeting and Queary are hybrid outside linebackers in the 3-3 stack defense. 

One thing coach Shultz and head coach Matt Turner have stressed all week is for the skill position players to sustain their blocks. Pioneer coaches have been concerned the receivers, wingbacks, and tailbacks have not been holding their blocks long enough to make the plays as successful as they could be. 

Coach Shultz said, “All week we have emphasized to do your job. The line has to know their job. There will be lots of blitzing by the defense. We have said it over and over this week, DO YOUR JOB! We have not been sustaining blocks on the perimeter well. We would have had more touchdowns last week if we had sustained our blocks. We worked really hard on that this week – sustaining our blocks. Not just our linemen block. Everyone has to block, and I am talking about sustaining those blocks for three to five seconds. A sustained block turns a six-yard play into a 30-yard play.”

Coach Shultz added, “I am very aware we had five touchdowns taken off the board last week because of mistakes.” 

How has the team worked to correct those mistakes?

One way was to review film. Players were shown their mistakes on film. Another way was to review assignments in practice. Coach Shultz said, “Kids remember. You ask them when they come off the field why they did that.” 

Coach Shultz said some players had a hard time hearing the entire play in the huddle because the home crowd against Cannon County was loud. The team has worked to improve the communication in the huddle as well.

On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Camron Bond says Rockvale quarterback Logan Nowacki is a player. 

Coach Bond said, “I’ve been impressed by him. He was not their starter last year. It’s going to be new for our players going against him. I think he is an equal threat passing and throwing. We will have to play disciplined football against him.”  

Nowacki had over 100 yards rushing last week against Franklin County. Rockvale’s running back, Grayson Smith, was mentioned last week as one of the top performers of the week in Rutherford County’s player of the week poll by the Daily News Journal. 

Coach Shultz said he has told coach Bond that if the defense can hold opponents to under 21 points, he believes the Pioneers will put enough points on the board to win. So far, coach Shultz has been right. Warren County scored 30 points in the opener against DeKalb County and 48 points last week against Cannon County.

Rockvale may have the numbers, 112 varsity players to be exact, but do they have 11 players who can keep the Pioneers from scoring more than 21 points? 

Coach Turner has been saying the defense has been a little ahead of the offense because of the experience on that side of the ball. Tonight, the Pioneers will find out if the correctable mistakes have been corrected. The Pioneers will find out if their new wrinkles on offense will be effective. And maybe, most importantly, the Pioneers will not be complacent with the first two wins. 

Coach Shultz put it this way, “Being 2-0 can be dangerous. You need a little bit of fear not to get complacent.”