Replacing any senior class is hard for a coach, but Warren County High School football coach Tommy Johnson will really have his hands full next year after losing 15 players who played for him four years and set several school records in the process.
The senior class went out with a 41-35 loss Friday night to Cumberland County, dropping the group’s record to 7-33 over four years. While the record wasn’t good, the statistics were.
Quarterback Hunter Mullican headlined the class by breaking nearly every school passing record. No Pioneer in the program’s 44-year history has passed for more yards, more touchdowns or more frequently than Mullican.
Mullican finished his career with the school record for completions (284), attempts (572), yards (3,783) and touchdowns (23). Mullican didn’t break the touchdown record until his final game when he threw for four scores against the Jets in the heartbreaking loss.
Mullican also set the single-season yardage record with his 317-yard performance against Cumberland County. Mullican finished this year with 1,692 yards, topping Lane McCarter’s 1,422 yards in 1989.
It adds to Mullican’s single-season attempts and completions records he set in 2011.
With Mullican setting all the school records, it should come as no shock his favorite receivers put up record-breaking numbers as well.
D’Andre League is the school’s most prolific pass catcher ever. League set the school record for catches with 95 – over half coming this season as he caught 50 passes to break Chris Madewell’s 12-year-old record of 43 catches in 1991.
League is also the all-time leader in yardage with 1,306 yards as his 189-yard night against the Jets pushed him past Billy Rutledge’s career total.
Lee Carden – a four-year starter at safety as well – finished second behind League with 75 career catches, but did top his teammate with nine career touchdowns. Carden’s touchdowns tie him with Matt McCarter for fourth in Pioneer history.
Cameron Lusk also notched his spot in the top five in career carries with 384 in three seasons. Lusk also became the sixth Pioneer in history to top 2,000 yards as he finished with 2,068 yards after rushing for 115 yards against the Jets.
There are few players in Pioneer history who can claim to have started more games than Logan Wanamaker. The offensive lineman was in the starting lineup when he made his Pioneer debut in the season opener against DeKalb County and never missed a start over 40 career games.
The senior class also had valuable linemen Ethan Turner, Gilly Ortiz and Hunter Coppinger. Turner was a two-way starter for four years while Ortiz finished this season with five sacks.
Drew Davidson came on his senior season on both sides of the ball for Warren County. Davidson finished his last year with 283 yards rushing, 285 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Davidson also topped 50 tackles defensively.
Linebackers Zack Stanley, Tucker Slatton, Blake Dugan and Christian Taylor combined for 70 tackles in their final year.
Kicker Johnny Smith was nearly flawless in his last year. Smith finished the year 7-for-8 on field goals and 16-for-17 on extra points. Smith also had 44 punts for an average of 30.5 yards.
Park Hilliard missed most of his last season with a shoulder injury, but came on in the last three games with eight catches and two touchdowns. Hilliard saved his best for last as he caught his first touchdown in the fourth quarter of his final game – a contest Hilliard finished with 63 yards receiving.
It will be hard to replace the production of the 15 Pioneers who played their final game Friday night.
Senior Pioneers leave school with records
