The games definitely aren’t going to get any easier for the Warren County Pioneers. Those Friday night lights led the Pioneers to Rutherford County to do battle with the Riverdale Warriors on Friday night. It was the last game in a four-game road trip, that included a bye week, and started Aug. 28.
The extended stay away from home ended Friday with a 45-3 loss to the Warriors in Murfreesboro. After getting blanked the previous week in Smyrna, the Pioneers were in desperate need to find a way to put points on the board.
This week Warren County started without two of its playmakers in the backfield. Two Pioneers served a one-game suspension and Raleigh Woods was out due to an ankle injury from the previous week’s game.
Warren County has proven week after week it is a strong first-quarter team and the Pioneers took it right at Riverdale in the first 12 minutes of play. The Warriors were stunned after they were held scoreless in the opening quarter and the Pioneers kicked a FG for a 3-0 lead.
WCHS head coach Tom Moore said, “I was proud of the guys for driving the ball down the field. We had plenty of punch inside but they beat us with speed at the corners. Once Riverdale turned the corner it was almost too late.”
Just three plays into the first possession for Riverdale, a 24-yard pass from Marqwell Odom was completed to Austin Bryant and then fumbled as he attempted to score. The ball was recovered by Warren County in the endzone for a touchback. The Pioneers took over on their own 20-yard line.
The drive looked to be in jeopardy but some hard running by senior Pioneer running back Rickie King kept the drive alive on third-and-2. King exploded for a 10-yard gain and a Pioneer first down.
Two plays later, the drive was highlighted by McCall Turner on second-and-8. He caught a 20-yard pass from quarterback Isaiah Grayson. Turner then dragged multiple tacklers another 8 yards after the catch before the Warrior defense brought him down for a 28-yard gain and another Warren County first down. The Pioneer faithful were frenzied by the effort by the Pioneers.
Warren County made its way to the 8-yard line before a third-and-3 resulted in a 6-yard sack. Jakob Morin entered the game and booted a 31-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. The first quarter ended and the Pioneers led the Warriors 3-0. It was Warren County’s first lead since Week 2.
Riverdale responded in the opening minutes of the second quarter. A 57-yard pass from Brandon Bea was completed to Marquise Cantrell and helped set up the Warriors first score. Just minutes into the second quarter the Warriors claimed the lead, 7-3.
On the ensuing kickoff, Warren County started from near midfield due to a nearly 30-yard return by Lorenzo Wilson. King scampered for 14 yards on the first carry. Two plays later, Grayson threw a shovel pass into traffic and the Warrior defense was obliged to pick off the short pass.
On the second play from scrimmage, Ramsey Martinez took the handoff and turned the corner and took off like a rocket. Martinez blew past the Pioneer defenders for a 43-yard gain. It set up a 4-yard pass from Bea to Cantrell and Riverdale led 14-3 with six minutes left before the half.
The Riverdale defense held Warren County and forced the Pioneers to punt. With just over three minutes to play before the half, it took the Warrior offense just six plays to find pay dirt again for the third time. Time expired in the first half and the Warriors led 21-3.
After halftime, Riverdale moved the ball at will. The Warriors deferred the kickoff and received the kick to start the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, the Warriors turned the corner on the defense again and went down the sideline for a 43-yard TD run to open the third.
Warren County went three and out on its first possession. Three plays later, the Warriors were off to the races again, this time for a 42-yard jaunt down the sideline. It turned into a 35-3 Riverdale lead in a matter of four minutes into the third quarter.
A field goal and touchdown late in the game finished up the scoring for Riverdale and left the Pioneers behind 45-3 as the clock expired.
The Pioneers gained 112 yards on the ground. King rushed 12 times for 79 yards.
In the air, Grayson was 6-of-9 for 46 yards. He was intercepted three times and no pass from Grayson reached the ground. Grayson also caught a pass on a trick play.
Riverdale gained a total of 451 total yards. The Warriors rushed for 189 yards and passed for 262 yards.
Warren County will finally be back home this Friday, Oct. 2 versus another potent offense, the Oakland Patriots with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.