The Southern Standard wants to take the opportunity to highlight the standout WCHS athletes. Partnering with R3 Logistics and Mud Bums Family Sports Grill, we will be honoring a Pioneer of the Week throughout the 2022-23 school year. Our honoree from Oct. 23-29 are the Pioneer football seniors.

Picking out an individual would’ve been impossible for coach Matt Turner and his staff after the season finale at Lebanon last week. While Warren County had its share of standouts all season, that final game was about the Pioneer seniors getting their final snaps.

In the waning moments, coach Turner made sure to take timeouts and get in all his seniors. One by one, they entered the field. First, Mark Bouldin was out there on the defensive line, getting huge cheers as he’s been a favorite among teammates for four years. Then, Madison Christian played her final snaps on the offensive line, ending a special career where she made sure to show she could hang with anybody on the gridiron.

In the end, there were the stars – Nate Elrod and Braylon Grayson – sharing a bear hug after the final whistle. Teammates for years and best friends for even longer, both wanted to take in the moment together, just like they had when they helped through the ups and downs in the last two years. 

Dayton Jernigan, unable able to play due to a knee injury against Lebanon, joined all the seniors in the aftermath, poising for pictures while on crutches. It hurt him inside all night that he wasn’t out there with his teammates for the final game, but he was able to find a smile when embracing his friends for life.

Coach Turner gathered for one last huddle, welcomed his seniors to the ‘Pioneer Creed,’ (Turner’s nickname for past Pioneers who are always welcome to be around the program and help out) and delivered a final pep talk. The message was delivered with emphasis too.

“(That) They’re the toughest kids in our school,” said Turner when asked about what he told his seniors after the game. “They come out and want to represent Warren County. They take pride in putting on that Pioneer uniform. Some will judge them on wins and losses, but I know all the work they’ve put in to try to make Warren County better.”

Turner knows the grind of a 1-9 season, marred by three separate one-point losses that were decided in the final minute and a total of five defeats by just 13 points, took its toll. Squad 54’s seniors were looking to leave more of a mark in the win column this year, but it wasn’t meant to be. It still didn’t stop them from making a lasting impression on their coaches though.

There were Turner’s comments from before the season about Chandler McCormick, who cut major weight and was going all-out in every practice. “He told me it was his last year and he wasn’t going to leave anything behind,” recalled Turner about his conversation with the motivated lineman.

Inspiration was also drawn from guys like Wes Sherrell, who came to the team late in his high school career and battled through an assortment of injuries all year to continue to give the team valuable snaps until the final minute. It was also heartwarming to see Jonathan Martinez get a chance to run the ball after working hard over multiple summers to get on the field and Levi Melton record a sack and forced fumble while chasing down one of the state’s best QBs last Friday.

Even special teamer Beckham Scott got into the action. Scott, a soccer convert who loved the grind of becoming a counted on kicker that was perfect on field goals and extra points this season, was able to sink his final kick last Friday. 

Of course, there was always Grayson and Elrod making plays too. Grayson finished his final game with 26 tackles and his team’s lone touchdown, while Elrod had 77 yards receiving, including a highlight-reel grab on fourth down to set up his teammate’s short TD run. 

Even the before and after pictures of the seniors were motivating to Turner, who saw this group come in during his first year and evolve over the last four falls. Guys like Dawson Haley transformed their bodies, going from small youngsters to strong seniors who didn’t mind taking some hits.

All of the Pioneer seniors, which include Haley, Elrod, Grayson, Scott, Melton, Martinez, Sherrell, McCormick, Jernigan, Christian, Bouldin, Will Davis, Bradley Duenas, Zachary Luck, Andrew Miller, Colin Newsom, Collin Panter, Harper Riley, Darius Rippy, Saul Smith, Evan Watts, Seth Cruze and Allison Parton (manager), will be remembered for their hard work in 2022.