Brent Carden photo
Homecoming is supposed to be memorable. Warren County's D3 Pioneers made sure nobody at Nunley Stadium Saturday will soon forget theirs.
Warren County overwhelmed Giles County 60-12 Saturday, putting an exclamation point on a full day of Homecoming festivities and continuing a dominant stretch that has seen D3 outscore opponents 166-34 in four victories.
The scary part for opponents may be that believes his group has completely bought into what his staff has been preaching since before the season started.
“We have a lot of great talent this year and they really put in the work. Our boys are buying into what we want to accomplish,” said coach Charlie Boyd.
Two players in particular have given Warren County a potent combination in the backfield. Gabriel Rodriguez supplies the speed while Jacob Harris brings the power.
Rodriguez was everywhere against Giles County.
The speedy back scored three offensive touchdowns, then showed he could make a difference on the other side of the ball by intercepting a pass and taking it back for a touchdown. His pick-six was one of many turnovers forced by a Warren County defense that continually gave the offense opportunities to add to the lead.
The Pioneers didn't waste any of them.
“Our team plays hard. Even our second group scored,” Boyd said. “Our defense had seven turnovers and we scored off the turnovers. Our offense scored on every possession. That’s how you score 60.”
It wasn't the first time the D3 defense has made life miserable for an opponent.
Warren County forced three turnovers in a 32-0 road victory over Fayetteville Sept. 5, recovering two fumbles and returning an interception for a touchdown. Earlier in the season, the Pioneers also created three turnovers while shutting out Manchester 36-0.
For Boyd, the takeaways are the result of an emphasis that started before Warren County ever played a game.
“I told the boys before the season that we have to get turnovers,” Boyd said. “If we get them and score off them, we can put points on the board.”
The message has clearly gotten through.
Rodriguez and Harris have been right in the middle of the offensive surge. Both scored two touchdowns in the victory over Manchester before Rodriguez delivered his four-touchdown performance against Giles County.
Warren County's 60-point outburst was its biggest offensive performance of the season, but Boyd sees more behind the success than a couple of talented runners or a string of big plays.
“We have a great coaching staff. We work together so our boys can be great,” Boyd said.
There's still plenty of football ahead for the young Pioneers, but D3 has already established a pretty simple formula.
The Cheerleaders and Players of the Week announced on the WC Youth Football Facebook page.
While D3 has supplied the biggest scores, Warren County's Division 1 team had its own reason to celebrate during the Sept. 5 road trip to Fayetteville.
D1 picked up a 21-12 victory, with Baylor Smithson and Sain Burns earning Player of the Week honors. Smithson was selected as the offensive honoree while Burns received the defensive award.
It was Smithson's second Offensive Player of the Week recognition of the season after also receiving the honor following Warren County's game against Manchester.
D3 had four players recognized following its Fayetteville shutout. Braxton Bell, Jacob Harris, Nathaniel Johnson and Jacob Cabrera were selected as Players of the Week after helping Warren County dominate on both sides of the ball.
The results weren't as kind to D1 and D2 when the Pioneers returned to Nunley Stadium for Homecoming. Giles County defeated D1 28-0 and topped D2 26-12 before D3 took the field and provided a resounding finish to the football portion of the day.
There was still plenty to celebrate before the final game kicked off.
Warren County Youth Football & Cheer held its Homecoming festivities throughout the day, giving its young players and cheerleaders a chance to enjoy some of the same traditions they will see if they continue through the local football program.
Brexlee Officer and Kambrie Champion were crowned the D1 Homecoming King and Queen. Zaccheaus Locke and Preslee Locke received the D2 honors, while Gabriel Ricardez-Rodriguez and Graelyn Rhoady were crowned the D3 King and Queen.
