It only took one game for Warren County Middle School football coach Adam Wood to head back to the drawing board.
An anemic offense cost the Pioneers in the season opener Tuesday as the team lost 14-0 to the Sequatchie County Indians.
Being shut out at home while gaining only 52 yards on offense wasn’t what coach Wood planned in his coaching debut at Warren County Middle School.
Improving the offense will move to the forefront of Wood’s plans before the team starts Central Tennessee Conference play next week when Franklin North visits Nunley Stadium.
Having the ball would be a good place to start. Warren County ran only 24 plays Tuesday as the Indians controlled the clock from the outset.
Warren County won the toss and deferred, giving Sequatchie County the ball to start the game.
The Indians opened the game with a seven-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Kyle Cates capped the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run. Adam Pickett added the two-point conversion on a run, putting the Indians ahead 8-0 with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Sequatchie County caught the Pioneers sleeping on the ensuing kickoff. An onside kick was recovered by Sequatchie County, giving the Indians the ball back.
The Indians mounted another drive deep into Warren County territory, but the drive stalled when Krojhn Calbert broke through the line for a sack on 4th-and-5.
The Pioneers didn’t hold the ball long though. Warren County went three-and-out as starting quarterback Trayton Rackley’s pass on 3rd-and-9 missed the mark.
After a 29-yard punt by A.D. Majors, Sequatchie County took over possession and milked the clock the rest of the first half.
Another onside kick was recovered by Warren County to start the second half, giving the Pioneers prime field position.
Warren County ventured into Sequatchie County territory on a 15-yard pass from Rackley to Noah Campbell, but the drive stalled and Rackley’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Sequatchie County sealed the game when it took the ball. Dylon Sanders raced 35 yards to paydirt to put Sequatchie County up 14-0.
The Pioneers had three drives to try to mount a comeback, but each finished with no points. Warren County sent Majors out once and the eighth-grader booted a 43-yard punt. The second drive, which was highlighted by Rackley hitting Majors on a fly route for 30 yards, ended on an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The final drive for Warren County, which started in Sequatchie County territory after a fumble, was stuffed as Calbert was stopped one yard short on 4th-and-7.
Rackley finished the game 3-for-10 for 55 yards. Calbert led Warren County in rushing with two carries for eight yards. Brendon Breedlove was the only other Pioneer with positive rushing, finishing with one carry for three yards.
Majors had one catch for 30 yards. Campbell’s’ lone grab went for 15 yards while Raleigh Woods added a 10-yard reception.
The Pioneers will be back in action Tuesday against Franklin North at 6:30 p.m.