Soccer season is upcoming, which means the Warren County Middle School boys are gearing up for another run at the Central Tennessee Conference title.
Coach Matt Jackson is hoping to lead his Pioneer team to the championship this season as the Warren County boys have been so close in the past three years.
With a number of talented players returning, Warren County has a good chance to make a splash in the standings.
Though Warren County is looking forward to the start of the season, added excitement around the program stems from the team changing venues.
After years of playing their home games at Pistole Park, the Pioneers will be calling Nunley Stadium their new home.
Warren County will play its six home games on the football field, a venue that will allow the Pioneers to play a more open and free-flowing game.
The new, larger field, along with a team full of scorers, has prompted coach Jackson to change his team’s alignment.
Last season, the Pioneers played a 4-3-3 alignment, allowing three forwards to do a lot of the scoring while keeping four defenders back at all times.
This year, coach Jackson wants to employ a 4-2-3-1, which means the Pioneers will have a focal point of the offense at the top while continuing to hold four members back for defensive purposes.
Coach Jackson explained why the difference should help the offense and defense.
“This look allows us to keep a strong defense, but also makes us move up to attack as one unit,” said Jackson. “Our midfielders, who have a tendency to push up and have to sprint to get back, can move up as we advance the ball.
“They’ll add extra support on offense and we’ll be focusing a lot more on making good passes this year.”
Warren County is strong at the top of its offense and in the back of its defense and one player is involved with both.
Eighth-grader Evan Reynolds returns as the Pioneers’ keeper, but coach Jackson doesn’t want to limit one of his most athletic players to staying in the net.
Reynolds could rotate at the striker position with Jacob Morin and John Haley to be one of the Pioneers’ top offensive threats as well.
Adding to the Pioneer depth are new additions Nathan Barnes and James Jackson. Barnes is an eighth-grade transfer student from Cookeville who has had success playing will premier teams in the summer.
Jackson is a sixth-grader who already possesses the speed and stamina necessary to contribute to the varsity team.
Morin steps up to varsity after leading the junior varsity team in scoring as a sixth-grader last season.
Seventh-grader Zach Murray will be headlining the back four on defense.
Warren County already had one opportunity to test out its new alignment against one of the best teams the state has to offer.
The Pioneers dropped a 1-0 decision against McCallie Middle School, but the result could’ve been even if not for a missed call.
Reynolds had a breakaway opportunity, but was pulled on the arm by a defender. Reynolds shook off the foul and blasted a shot into the back of the net.
Instead of leaving the play as it stands because Reynolds held the advantage, the referee whistled the foul and erased the goal.
Though the Pioneers lost, coach Jackson was pleased his team played so well against a powerhouse middle school program.
The Pioneers will get another look at another top team Friday when Warren County travels to Murfreesboro to take on Blackman in a friendly competition.
The regular season begins next Thursday, March 15, with a home contest against Webb School. Webb features Mitch Owens, a former Pioneer who transferred last summer.
The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Nunley Stadium.