“Come on up for the rising
Come on up lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight.”
Bruce Springsteen,
The Rising
The phoenix in Greek mythology obtains a new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. After the game, WCHS head coach Matt Turner asked his team, “Have I ever lied to you?”
The point he was making was he told them the truth when he said this team could beat one the big three teams in Murfreesboro. For years, the big three have been Riverdale, Oakland, and Blackman.
The scoreboard told the story Friday night, Warren County 35, Blackman 28.
For three decades, Warren County has had losing seasons such as 0-10 and 2-8 against smaller schools. Four years ago Warren County was put into the highest classification, 6A, and into the toughest region in the state with Rutherford County teams. Many people in Warren County and across the state thought the Pioneers were the worst 6A team in the state.
When head coach Matt Turner started declaring the Pioneers could shock the world this week, who believed him? Forget the outside world. Every Pioneer player who made the trip to Blackman Friday night believed him. The entire coaching staff, who all have played at Warren County by the way, believed him. Call Turner a prophet. Call him the phoenix of Warren County football. Call him one heckuva football coach. He is turning doubters into believers.
There is no denying Matt Turner has led this team to a rising, to a new day. Something else cannot be denied. The player wearing No. 1 is the number one reason this team is undefeated, 5-0. There are many significant supporting cast members in this epic story. But right now at this moment, C.J. deserves the spotlight. He rushed for 321 yards against Blackman on 33 carries. Oh, and he scored all five touchdowns. Even the Blackman crew moving the chains said he was a man possessed.
After the game, C.J. Taylor said, “I could not have done it without my linemen. Coach Shultz called a good game.”
When asked about Blackman, C.J. said, “They woke me up. They woke me up at 9:00 talking crap. I was at Bryson Elrod’s house, and there was this dude on Snapchat talking crap. Last year, he injured me when we played Blackman at home. It drove me a little bit more. I had to prove something.”
The game appeared to be a total domination at halftime. Warren County was up 21-7.
Warren County scored on the opening possession of the second half and the score was 28-7 in the Pioneers favor. A runaway, right? Wrong!
Blackman turned the ball over on downs on its first possession of the second half. The Pioneers responded by scoring again, making the score 35-7.
One might assume that after being up 35-7 in the second half the game was practically over. Wrong! Blackman had a quarterback with a big arm, and there were over 100 players dressed out on the Blackman sidelines. The speed and rotating players started to take a toll on the Pioneers. Some big plays were given up.
With only 16.8 seconds left, Blackman scored and closed the gap to 35-28. Everyone knew Blackman would kick an onside kick. Their head coach, Kit Hartsfield said, “It was a perfect onside kick and we recovered the ball.”
Blackman then completed a pass moving the ball to the Warren County 33-yard line. Then the Blackman quarterback Drew Beam threw an incompletion.
Beam could put the zip on a ball that a baseball pitcher might do, which Beam is. Beam had :03 left on the clock for the last play, and he threw it in the end zone. It was deflected by Warren County, and time expired.
The Pioneers were excited. They had dedicated the game to the Stevens family by putting a star on their helmets. It had been an emotional week for everyone in Warren County, including the players, coaches, and their families.
Turner said, “It is surreal. I told the kids that I am waiting to wake up. I am waiting to get that jolt. I told them at halftime that they have the opportunity to change the next generation’s thought of Pioneer football. This is bigger than squad 52.”
This week the Pioneers will travel to Siegel to win a game and remain undefeated, and they will also be attempting to bust the myth that Warren County football is a school that cannot be 6-0. Break a 29 year-losing record! Anyone want to doubt that they can do it?
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