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
Eric Belew needed just two words to describe AJ Whitman after the Warren County quarterback torched Glencliff for 375 total yards and five touchdowns Friday night.
“He's electric.”
Whitman proved it throughout the Pioneers' 41-6 Senior Night victory, rushing for 235 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for 140 yards and two more scores. The junior quarterback was responsible for five of Warren County's six touchdowns, delivering one of his finest performances of the season and earning R3 Logistics Pioneer of the Week honors.
Whitman has been a driving force behind Warren County's offensive resurgence this fall, combining his ability to stretch the field with his arm and punish defenses with his legs. Against Glencliff, the Colts had few answers for either.
The Pioneers needed just two plays to score their first touchdown after senior Carter Lee intercepted a pass on Glencliff's opening possession. Whitman rolled to his right and found Marek Sadlon for a 21-yard touchdown, giving Warren County a 7-0 lead just 70 seconds into the game.
Later in the first quarter, Whitman showed off his passing touch again, connecting with Lee in stride for a 58-yard touchdown. The long scoring strike pushed Warren County's lead to 14-0 and provided another example of the explosive plays Whitman can produce when given time to operate.
The Colts managed to make things interesting in the second quarter, cutting Warren County's lead to 14-6 while the Pioneers struggled with penalties and missed opportunities.
Whitman made sure the momentum didn't stay with Glencliff heading into halftime.
After Sadlon returned a punt 24 yards to set Warren County up in Colts territory, Whitman took command of a two-minute offense and marched the Pioneers downfield. He finished the drive himself, scoring from two yards out with just three seconds remaining before halftime to give Warren County a 21-6 advantage.
The second half brought more opportunities for Whitman to showcase his running ability.
He powered into the end zone from a yard out on the final play of the third quarter, extending the Pioneers' lead to 28-6. Early in the fourth, following an interception by Cameron Redmore, Whitman broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown run that effectively put the game out of reach.
By the time his night was finished, Whitman had completed 12-of-15 passes without an interception and averaged more than eight yards per rushing attempt.
While his individual numbers were impressive, Belew was quick to point out that Whitman's success was made possible by the players working in front of him.
“What we've got up front, they've really bought into protecting him. And anybody that's carrying the ball, anybody that's throwing the ball, I think our offensive line just deserves so much credit in that regard,” said Belew.
That combination of protection and playmaking has helped transform Warren County's offense this season, which followed a 6-5 run in 2025. After winning just one game in each of the two seasons before Belew arrived, the Pioneers have now reached five victories for the second consecutive year.
Whitman has been central to that turnaround, giving Warren County a quarterback capable of changing a game on any snap. His performance against Glencliff was another example of the problems he creates for opposing defenses, whether he's escaping pressure, finding a receiver downfield or breaking through the line for a long run.
And with another year of high school football ahead of him, Whitman will have an opportunity to build on the progress he and the Pioneers have made.
First, there's one more game to play this season.
Warren County will host LaVergne in the Nurserymen's Bowl Thursday, Nov. 5, with an opportunity to finish 6-5 for the second consecutive season under Belew.
