If fall break would have been moved up one day, the Pioneers probably wouldn’t have minded. Being in Tullahoma Friday night was the last place Warren County looked like it wanted to be.
The Pioneers were throttled by the Wildcats, falling 37-0 on the road. Warren County has now lost its last seven games, including the last two by shutout. Friday’s game may have been the toughest of all though; Warren County finished with -11 yards of offense, going backward more than forward as Tullahoma controlled the game from start to finish.
“We have to coach it better, execute it better and be better. That all falls back on me,” said coach Matt Turner. “It’s just been a struggle offensively. We’ve seen these kids do things against kids their own age that looks great, but then you’re playing a team on senior night and realize how far we still have to go to be competitive.
“We’re not using it as an excuse – it’s just the reality. We’re a very young team, but right now we’ve played eight games and we’ve got to find a way to make it better.”
Warren County (1-7) didn’t cross the 50 until the fourth quarter. Raul Manus made a fourth-down stop at midfield to give the Pioneers a shot at scoring, but the Pioneers immediately went backwards on the next snap. The lone snap Warren County took in Wildcat territory came after the Pioneers fumbled across midfield and jumped on the loose ball, gaining enough yardage to penetrate the Tullahoma zone.
One play later, the Pioneers were forced to punt and the Wildcats ran out of the final six minutes of a running clock to move to 6-2.
Tullahoma played the entire first half on Warren County’s side of the field. The Wildcats forced a quick three-and-out, starting with Jax Patterson being dropped for a five-yard loss on the first play and ending with freshman Kristopher Robledo getting sacked for an eight-yard loss on third down.
Punting out of his own endzone, Garryn Duggin was able to push Tullahoma back to the Pioneer 46, momentarily halting the Tullahoma tidal wave. Duggin was solid throughout the night, averaging over 30 yards per punt as the junior stayed busy.
The Wildcats started the scoring with QB Mason Bratcher connecting with Khani Johnson on a quick slant that covered eight yards. Grant Chadwick, Tullahoma’s star kicker who sent balls booming into the endzone all night on kickoffs, added the extra point to make it 7-0 early.
Warren County was able to pick up one of its two first downs on the next drive on a nice run by Creed Adams, but another drive stalled when Brady Swallows was sacked on third down.
A big punt return by Johnson set up Tullahoma at the Warren County 26 for the home team’s second drive, but the Pioneer defense turned back the Wildcats. Senior Aiden Miller came up with a key sack on third down to force a long kick and Chadwick came up short from 47 yards out, giving Warren County the ball back.
The Pioneers didn’t keep it long. A fumbled exchange two plays later gave Tullahoma the ball back and Bratcher capped a quick four-play drive with an 18-yard TD pass to Mason Grizzard.
Warren County blocked the PAT, but Chadwick would add points for Tullahoma on a 45-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Tullahoma tacked on two more scores before the break, with Marvancy Johnson breaking several tackles on a 43-yard TD run and later adding a two-yard score after a Pioneer interception was nearly returned for a score.
Leading 30-0 at halftime, Tullahoma enacted the mercy rule and got the ball to start the third quarter. The Wildcats promptly drove down the field, with Grizzard adding one final highlight by snatching a 24-yard TD pass where he climbed the ladder over a Pioneer defender and completed a miraculous catch as both players crashed to the ground.
“Just a tough night all the way around. We’ll get two weeks to get back to work and get Pioneer Nation behind us for the next one at home,” said Turner.
Warren County will have a bye week this Friday before it faces Wilson Central Oct. 20. The game will serve as both homecoming and senior night at Nunley Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
