Pioneers and TIgers set for Kickoff
Warren County spent the last several months preparing for Year 2 under coach Eric Belew. Friday night, the Pioneers finally get to find out how much progress they have made.
The Pioneers will open the season on the road against DeKalb County, renewing a border rivalry that has been separated by very little over the last two decades. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Smithville.
Warren County enters the opener coming off a 6-5 season, the program's first winning record since 2020 and just the third winning campaign in the last 40 years. Instead of spending another summer learning completely new systems, the Pioneers have been able to build on the foundation established during Belew's first year.
There is also plenty of motivation waiting across the field.
DeKalb County has won the last two meetings, including a bizarre 19-16 victory at Nunley Stadium last August. The Pioneers led late in that game before the Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter, then Warren County's final drive was interrupted by a nearly hour-long lightning delay before ending on fourth down just before midnight.
A year later, Belew expects another physical battle.
"It's probably going to be a lot of smash-mouth football," said Belew.
The Warren County Sports Authority, in partnership with the Upper Cumberland Reporter, will be broadcasting the game LIVE with Jeff Simmons, Trevor Evans and coach Chris Sullens serving as the broadcast team bringing you all the latest coverage of Pioneer football. Be on the lookout for the pregame show, in partnership with Warren First, beginning at 6 p.m. in Smithville.
More on the big game:
Pioneers finally get their test
If Warren County looks particularly eager to play Friday, there is a good reason.
The Pioneers haven't faced another team since their July 30 scrimmage against Spring Hill. Weather wiped out a planned trip to Columbia and the scheduled jamboree against Coffee County was later canceled due to injuries for the Red Raiders, leaving Warren County without two of its anticipated preseason tests.
"We did our best to simulate two scrimmages with that knowledge of having that jamboree week off and we thought our players did a really good job," said Belew. "We filmed everything and corrected things like it was a game night.
"I'm just really excited about the maturity that our players have and their eagerness to hit somebody else at this point because they're certainly ready."
The good news is Warren County should enter the opener relatively healthy. Injuries created some concern earlier in preseason, but the outlook has improved considerably.
"If you would've asked me this two weeks ago, it was kind of, 'I don't know. We've got to get some diagnosis,' and we've got some really good news throughout the last two weeks," said Belew about his team’s health. "For the overwhelming majority, we're really healthy."
Warren County should also be much further along mentally than it was entering Belew's debut.
The difference has been particularly noticeable in the trenches, where the Pioneers return four seniors in their regular offensive-line rotation with Ethan Holder at left tackle, Ryan Romzek at center, Jonny Garcia at right guard and Canaan Curtis at right tackle. The group has allowed the coaching staff to spend more time refining technique rather than simply teaching assignments.
"They've really bought in to what we're trying to sell them and ultimately they've just put the work in to bear the fruits of their labor," said Belew. "They've put size on, they've gotten faster and stronger. They're extremely coachable."
The confidence in the front has spread throughout the roster.
"I think who's most excited is our backfield and skill guys," said Belew. "They feel really confident that they're going to have time to do what they want to do. As well as on the defensive side, they feel confident that those three to four guys up front are going to be able to create gaps for them."
A different dimension at QB
AJ Whitman will get his first opportunity to lead the Pioneer offense in a regular-season game Friday.
Whitman showed during Warren County's lone completed scrimmage what his mobility could add, scoring twice on the ground and throwing a touchdown pass to Huck Damon against Spring Hill.
His presence doesn't mean Belew has ripped up the offense. Warren County still wants to establish a physical running game behind its experienced front. What changes is the number of ways the Pioneers can create that rushing attack.
"When you have a mobile quarterback, it almost feels like you're getting an extra player," said Belew. "We can move that tailback out, move him over here, add an extra tight end or a lineman or whatever that may be. So that's really fun."
Dylan Aguilar enters Friday as the starting tailback after playing extensively last season, with Damon and freshman James Mietling providing more options. Colton Gater returns at B-back, where his consistency and understanding of the offense have earned repeated praise from Belew.
That group will be running behind a line Warren County expects to be a strength, something that could become particularly important considering how last year's meeting unfolded.
DeKalb County finished with a 185-38 advantage in rushing yards in its three-point victory.
Warren County had plenty of offensive success through the air, finishing with 262 passing yards, but never established the ground game. DeKalb did, including on the decisive fourth-quarter drive when Reed Midgett ripped off a 21-yard run before the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Reversing that disparity should be one of Warren County's biggest priorities Friday.
New coach, familiar DeKalb identity
There will be a major difference on the opposite sideline.
Michael Shaw has taken over at DeKalb County following the departure of Steve Trapp, who spent 21 seasons leading the Tigers. Shaw isn't an outsider, however. He was already part of the program and served as DeKalb's defensive coordinator before moving into the head coaching role.
Belew doesn't expect the coaching change to suddenly make DeKalb unrecognizable.
"Their identity hasn't wavered a whole lot with what you think about with DeKalb," said Belew. "They play really, really hard and they're going to do their best to be extremely physical throughout the whole game. So that certainly hasn't changed.
"Offensively, they've got some new things, but it seems that they're being moldable to what they have. They're kind of putting players based on their abilities and their skill sets."
That starts with quarterback Jesse Foutch.
Foutch has experience at quarterback before spending last season at receiver and now returns to the position as DeKalb's starter. His running ability figures heavily into the Tigers' plans and gives Warren County another ball carrier to account for on every snap.
Midgett should command just as much attention.
After contributing as a freshman last year, Midgett enters his sophomore season as one of DeKalb's most important offensive weapons. The Tigers can move him around the formation and use him in several roles while building their offense around a physical running game.
Shaw also has Aiden Harris in the backfield and plans to manufacture touches for Preston Cantrell, giving DeKalb ways to get its perimeter players involved without relying solely on the passing game.
The philosophy is clear: DeKalb wants to trust its offensive line, establish its backs and use Foutch as an additional running threat.
That puts plenty of responsibility on Warren County's defensive front.
Camron Holder has been the most disruptive Pioneer lineman during preseason, while Ethan Holder and Curtis give Warren County three experienced players up front. Enrique Hernandez has also earned his way into significant snaps and David Franco adds depth to the rotation.
Behind them, Gater and Colton Wood will start at inside linebacker with Cameron Redmore also expected to play extensively.
The Pioneers want their defensive line controlling blockers and creating clean opportunities for the linebackers rather than simply charging into the backfield looking for big plays. Against a DeKalb offense determined to establish the run, that discipline will be tested immediately.
Brent Carden photos - The Tigers and Pioneers will clash for the 22nd season Friday night. Last year’s game was a slugfest, one DeKalb County won 19-16.
Tigers have experience on defense
DeKalb's defense may be the more experienced side of its roster.
It also remains closely tied to Shaw, who coordinated the unit before becoming head coach.
Senior linebacker Tucker Webb is the player Warren County will have to identify in the middle. Shaw puts considerable responsibility on Webb to get DeKalb aligned and ready before the snap.
"Our defense, Tucker Webb, he's kind of the quarterback of the whole show," said Shaw during his appearance on UCR season preview shows.
Midgett will also contribute defensively, while Eli Jones gives the Tigers another experienced piece.
The Tigers also have several younger players taking larger roles. Preston Cantrell has developed into a bigger part of the defense, while Colin Donnell and Rocky Cantrell are among the underclassmen DeKalb expects to lean on.
The challenge for DeKalb will be sorting through everything Warren County can do before the snap.
Whitman's running ability allows the Pioneers to shift backs, tight ends and receivers without removing the quarterback from the rushing equation. Belew has spent much of the offseason looking for formations that are complicated for opponents to prepare for without becoming complicated for his own players to execute.
Friday provides the first indication of how effective that approach can be.
Little things could decide another close one
There hasn't been much room for error in several recent meetings between the Pioneers and Tigers.
That makes turnovers and special teams worth watching.
Warren County intercepted two passes in last year's matchup, but also lost a fumble. This year's defense has placed a major emphasis on pursuit and creating turnovers throughout the offseason.
The Pioneers also have an experienced weapon in Gavin Looper.
Looper kicked a 37-yard field goal to give Warren County a 16-13 lead against DeKalb last season and returns as both the kicker and punter this fall. Belew has also seen increased strength on kickoffs, with Looper putting the ball into the end zone at times during preseason.
DeKalb counters with Adrian Prater, who will handle both kicking and punting duties for the Tigers.
In a matchup both staffs expect to be physical and potentially possession-driven, hidden yardage could become important quickly.
One game separates the rivalry
Friday will continue a run that has become one of Warren County's most consistent football rivalries. The Pioneers and Tigers have met every season since 2005, playing 21 times during that stretch.
DeKalb County, by virtue of back-to-back wins, now leads the all-time series 11-10. Warren County won the first three meetings, including a 50-6 victory in 2005, before DeKalb broke through in 2008.
A year later came one of the series' most memorable games. Warren County won 49-42 in a 2009 shootout featuring Michael Thrower, Caleb Northcutt, Brandon Steg and Franklin Martin Jr. for the Pioneers and Hunter Poteete and Abram Edwards for the Tigers.
The series has produced plenty of close finishes since.
Warren County won 19-16 in 2010 and 34-30 in 2014. DeKalb prevailed 19-14 in 2018. The Pioneers won 30-24 in 2020, DeKalb survived 35-34 in 2022 and Warren County answered with a 34-27 victory in 2023.
The Tigers have taken control of the last two, winning 28-14 and 19-16 last season.
A Warren County victory Friday would stop that streak lock back up what has turned into the one of the most notable battles around, but don’t expect the Pioneer coaching staff to be adding extra incentive to the game.
"We constantly preach to our guys, circumstances don't dictate the decisions you make," said Belew.
After a crazy loss under wild circumstance last year, coach Belew is making everything simple the year. “Be where your feet are,” is a common Belew saying and nothing about Friday’s opener is making him deflect off his calm, cool demeanor.
The Pioneers will be in Smithville Friday night. Kickoff is finally here.
