It wasn't perfection, but Warren County left Chattanooga one step closer to a goal that seemed to be slowly slipping away for a month: A winning record for the year. Behind three total TDs from QB AJ Whitman, big plays galore and new players stepping up, the Pioneers pounded Howard 41-18 on the road Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Warren County (4-5) didn't just find the end zone against the Tigers - The Pioneers practically lived there for three quarters, scoring touchdowns on their first six possessions while building a commanding advantage. Five different players scored, Whitman continued to pile up rushing yards and the offense looked much more like the group that had won three straight games in September than the one that had struggled through October.
“I’m pleased with multiple players getting chances to get the ball - Thought some young guys like freshman Isaac Sain looked really good running the ball,” said coach Eric Belew, now 10-10 in his tenure at WCHS. “Christian Munoz making a big play in the run game is big as well. We just have to continue to trust what our Day 1 techniques and assignments are and we'll get the problems solved.”
While Warren County was in control throughout - the ball didn’t enter Pioneer territory until the final play of the first quarter and, by then, the visitors were up 13-0 - coach Belew left knowing there were still plenty of things to clean up, especially after Howard scored twice in the fourth quarter to make the final score more respectable.
“I thought we had some highs but some major lows. I wasn't very pleased on our physicality on defense and our penalties on offense in the second half,” said Belew. “Also, our Achilles heel of receivers getting behind us is something we have to fix. It starts with the head coach.”
For all the concerns about the finish, there was no denying the Pioneers had plenty of positives to take home. Warren County rushed for 233 yards, didn't turn the ball over and got contributions from players who hadn't been featured much in the offense this season.
Warren County wasted little time showing it arrived in Chattanooga ready to run. The Pioneers were practically pacing on the sidelines by the time the game kicked off 30 minutes later than anticipated and the team wasn’t going to wait much longer to start scoring.
After the Pioneer defense forced an opening punt, Marek Sadlon returned the kick to the Howard 31 to give his offense a short field.
Whitman did most of the damage from there, breaking into the red zone before finishing the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, but the Pioneers had a 6-0 lead with 7:56 left in the first quarter.
The second possession offered a glimpse of the offensive variety that would become a theme throughout the night. Dylan Aguilar got touches in the backfield, freshman Isaac Sain made his varsity debut and Whitman found senior Carter Lee on a quick screen toward the visitor sideline that sprang for a 27-yard touchdown.
Lee stayed inbounds and raced away from the Tiger defense, putting Warren County ahead 13-0 late in the first quarter.
Howard finally found some life behind running back Ga'reece Goodwin, who ripped off a 22-yard run to help the Tigers move into scoring position. Warren County appeared to have the drive stopped when Canaan Curtis, Braxton Jordan and Cameron Redmore got to quarterback Fletcher Williams for a sack on third down, but the Hustlin’ Tigers had other ideas.
Facing fourth-and-long, Williams connected with Dushawn Neil for a 23-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 13-6 early in the second quarter.
Howard tried to steal some momentum with an onside kick, but Warren County was ready. The Pioneers recovered at their own 48 and went right back to work.
Whitman took over on the third possession, getting loose for a 35-yard touchdown run that showed why he has been so difficult for opponents to bring down all season. The junior appeared to be bottled up before slipping away from a tackle and accelerating into the open field. The score pushed Warren County's lead to 20-6 with 6:37 left before halftime.
And the Pioneers weren't finished.
Warren County got the ball back late in the second quarter and kept pounding away at the Howard defense. With the clock winding down, senior Colton Gater got his opportunity near the goal line and powered in from 4 yards out. Gavin Looper's extra point made it 27-6 with just 25 seconds remaining before halftime.
The break did nothing to slow down the Pioneers.
Warren County opened the third quarter with its longest scoring march of the night, going 64 yards in nine plays. Whitman continued to move the chains, Christian Munoz helped the offense work its way downfield and Aguilar eventually got the call near the goal line.
The senior took a direct snap and walked into the end zone from a yard out, giving Warren County a 34-6 advantage with 8:21 left in the third quarter.
The recipe stayed the same offensively most of the second half - let the team pound away against Howard with the running game, then choose a new rusher to score at the goal line. On the final score, it was Redmore who got the chance to finish the drive.
The sophomore took a direct snap and lowered his shoulder to move the ball to the 2-yard line, then got another opportunity on the next play. Howard’s defense wasn’t going to give Redmore resistance as the path opened up and the sophomore rumbled in for his first touchdown of the night, stretching Warren County's lead to 41-6 with 1:52 left in the third quarter.
It was the kind of offensive performance Warren County desperately needed after managing just 23 combined points in its previous three games. In one night, the Pioneers went from struggling to find the end zone to making it look routine against Howard.
The Tigers did manage to take advantage of some defensive lapses late, with Williams finding Neil for a 69-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The same combination connected again on a 29-yard scoring pass with 3:04 remaining, accounting for the final margin.
Neil finished with five catches for 144 yards and all three Howard touchdowns, providing the kind of explosive plays Belew knows his defense cannot continue to surrender.
Whitman was once again the engine behind Warren County's offense, carrying 15 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns while completing 6-of-10 passes for 103 yards and another score. The junior finished with 236 yards of total offense and pushed his season rushing total to 1,256 yards.
Munoz supplied one of the night's biggest plays with a 62-yard run and finished with 77 yards on six carries. The junior also caught a 10-yard pass, giving him 87 yards of total offense.
Lee caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Sadlon added two receptions for 47 yards. Sain finished with 16 yards on three carries in his varsity debut, Aguilar had 9 yards and a touchdown and Redmore added 6 yards and a score. Gater made his lone carry count with his 4-yard touchdown.
The Pioneers also avoided the turnover problems that had plagued them against Cannon County, while penalties were a plenty Friday. Warren County was flagged seven times for 75 yards, while Howard was penalized 18 times for 155 yards. The Tigers struggled with pre-snap penalties throughout the night, repeatedly putting themselves in difficult down-and-distance situations.
The win was Warren County's second straight over Howard after shutting out the Tigers 50-0 last season. More importantly, it put the Pioneers in position to make another late-season push toward a winning record.
Warren County was also 3-5 entering its matchup with Howard a year ago before winning its final three games to finish 6-5. Now, with two games remaining, the Pioneers have a chance to finish with the same record.
The final stretch starts next Friday at Nunley Stadium, where Warren County will celebrate Senior Night against Glencliff. The Pioneers will then wrap up the season Thursday, Nov. 5 against LaVergne in the Nurseryman's Bowl.
