Pioneer of the Week: Aug 31-Sept 5
Each weekend, The Warren County Way will be selecting a Pioneer of the Week. That honor is sponsored by R3 Logistics. Be on the lookout for the Pioneers of the Week throughout the 2026-27 school year.
AJ Whitman, WCHS Football
AJ Whitman didn’t need many opportunities Friday night to make a major impact.
The Warren County junior quarterback rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, completed both of his passes for 27 yards and another score and helped the Pioneers break through for their first victory with a 41-12 rout of Hunters Lane at Nunley Stadium.
Whitman’s latest big night, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown run, makes him the R3 Logistics Pioneer of the Week for Aug. 31-Sept. 5.
Whitman has been one of Warren County’s biggest playmakers since taking over at quarterback this season, but Friday may have been his most efficient performance yet. He averaged nearly 25 yards every time he carried the ball and accounted for three touchdowns despite spending much of the second half watching as the Pioneers got younger players valuable varsity snaps.
It didn’t take long for Whitman to show what kind of night it was going to be.
After Dylan Aguilar started Warren County’s opening drive with an 8-yard gain, Whitman ripped off runs of 32 and 18 yards before finishing the four-play, 63-yard march with a 5-yard touchdown.
Whitman went to the air on Warren County’s next possession. After the Pioneer defense stopped Hunters Lane on fourth down deep in Warrior territory, Whitman found senior Marek Sadlon for a 9-yard touchdown to quickly make it 14-0. Warren County kept pouring it on from there, building a 27-0 advantage before the end of the first quarter.
His biggest highlight came after Hunters Lane finally showed some life late in the second quarter.
The Warriors connected on a 71-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 27-6 with 3:28 remaining. Any hopes Hunters Lane had of carrying some momentum into halftime lasted exactly one Warren County offensive snap.
Whitman took the ball at his own 40, burst through the defense and raced 60 yards to the end zone, immediately restoring a four-touchdown advantage.
The explosive run was another example of what has quickly become a familiar sight for Pioneer fans. Whitman has topped 100 yards rushing in each of his first three starts at quarterback and now has 471 rushing yards this season.
Whitman has been quick to credit the offensive line for helping fuel his fast start.
“It's just trust, really,” Whitman said. “They trust me, I trust them to make those holes, and I just gotta hit the holes, break tackles and do what I do: score touchdowns.”
While Whitman’s ability to break loose with the ball has produced plenty of highlights, coach Eric Belew has been just as impressed with how quickly his first-year starter has grown into everything the Pioneers need from the position.
“He’s just getting extremely confident and composed. He’s also giving a lot of input on Friday nights about what he’s seeing and suggestions throughout the week. He’s a true quarterback,” Belew said.
That growth is coming as Warren County becomes increasingly comfortable in the second year of Belew’s system.
“I think our players are getting more and more confident in our scheme and being able to line up in a lot of different ways,” Belew said.
Friday was also different from Whitman’s first two huge performances for one important reason. This time, he got to celebrate a victory.
Warren County had come painfully close in its first two games, falling 10-7 in overtime at DeKalb County before Livingston Academy scored in the final seconds to escape Nunley Stadium with a 27-21 victory. Against Hunters Lane, there was no late heartbreak. The Pioneers scored on every offensive possession and finally put their first win on the board.
“It felt amazing,” Whitman said. “It's just a confidence booster going into next week. We got Franklin County and they're going to be a tough team, but I think the confidence is going to be there and we're going to be ready.”
After three weeks, Whitman has already shown he can produce big numbers and explosive plays. More importantly for Warren County, its first-year starter is looking more and more like what Belew called him after Friday’s breakthrough victory: a true quarterback.
Jeff Simmons and Michael Thrower talk to AJ Whitman following the 41-12 victory Friday night at Nunley Stadium.
