Brent Carden photos - Wesley Romzek is mobbed by teamamates after his 25-yard TD catch in the second quarter Friday night.
It feels like the Pioneers are starting to find out what happens when they stay on the tracks.
Warren County had every reason to wobble Friday night - A 14-point lead disappeared in three minutes before halftime, Franklin County answered the Pioneers’ first touchdown of the second half almost immediately and the Rebels piled up nearly 300 yards through the air and had one of the most explosive players Warren County has seen all season.
None of it knocked the Pioneers off course.
Warren County answered every Franklin County surge and rode another monster night from AJ Whitman, three interceptions from its defense and a game-changing pick-six from Dylan Aguilar to beat the Rebels 34-21 at Nunley Stadium.
The victory moved Warren County to 2-2 after an 0-2 start and gave the Pioneers consecutive wins following last week’s 41-12 rout of Hunters Lane.
For coach Eric Belew, the way Warren County responded when the game turned against it may have meant as much as the final score.
“I think what’s great is that it’s player-led,” said Belew. “It doesn’t feel like we’re having to do these constant motivations to get them engaged. They’re peer-led and in any facet of education for teenagers, if they are peer-led, success usually follows. I’m just really excited about how they took control of the game.
“It really wasn’t us as a staff. We’re just culture promoters. Our players are the culture and they just did a phenomenal job tonight.”
Whitman continued a remarkable start to his first season at quarterback. The junior carried 33 times for 244 yards and two touchdowns while completing 8-of-11 passes for 75 yards and two more scores.
Whitman has now rushed for more than 100 yards in all four games this season, upping his total to 728 rushing yards and seven touchdowns through four games, with Friday marking his second 200-yard performance.
But the play that finally gave Warren County separation came from Aguilar.
With Warren County leading 28-21 late in the third quarter, Aguilar read Franklin County quarterback Baylor Hayes, broke toward the passing lane and intercepted the throw in stride. He never slowed down, racing 36 yards down the visitor sideline for a pick-six that pushed the Pioneer advantage to 34-21.
“The ball snapped and it was like time just slowed down,” said Aguilar. “I saw the quarterback look where I was and then the ball got in the air and it was like slow motion. I broke on it and I saw green grass and I was like, ‘We’re putting up six.’”
Aguilar believed it was the swing Warren County needed.
“It was really big,” said Aguilar. “I feel like it was the momentum we needed to take and win the game.”
Getting to that moment required Warren County to survive plenty.
Franklin County moved the ball immediately after receiving the opening kickoff. Logan Polkinghorn broke loose for 43 yards on the opening possession and the Rebels eventually worked inside the Pioneer 10.
Warren County appeared to have the stop when Cameron Redmore got to Hayes on fourth down, but a facemask gave Franklin County another opportunity near the goal line. The Pioneers responded again, swarming Monte Johnson on a shovel pass for an 8-yard loss before eventually forcing a turnover on downs.
Franklin County drove deep into Pioneer territory on its next possession and came away empty again. Redmore dropped Polkinghorn for a 5-yard loss on third down and a Rebel penalty pushed Franklin County farther backward before Warren County forced another turnover on downs.
Those two stands allowed the Pioneer offense time to strike.
Whitman took care of that with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The junior broke through the Franklin County defense, ran through contact and a facemask and left everyone behind on a 67-yard touchdown run. Gavin Looper added the extra point to make it 7-0.
It was another long touchdown in a season already filled with them for Whitman, but Warren County showed in the second quarter it could create explosives through the air too.
The Pioneers had shown Franklin County a quick throw to the outside earlier and noticed the Rebels aggressively jumping the route. Warren County came back to the look, Whitman sold the short throw and Wesley Romzek slipped behind the defense.
Whitman hit him in stride for a 25-yard touchdown with 9:26 remaining in the half.
Belew credited all three pieces of the play, including Carter Lee helping create the opening with his route.
“That was huge for Wesley just for his confidence, him understanding that he can do it,” said Belew. “He’s just getting better every week. He’ll be as good as he is now, he’ll be even better come late October, early November.
“(I’m) Just thrilled about that - thrilled about the read that AJ made there. That play’s open because Carter Lee’s running a great route. I’m just tickled to death in how they all came together.”
Then Johnson changed the game in a hurry.
Hayes dumped a swing pass to Johnson in the flat with 2:56 remaining before halftime. Johnson broke tackles, found open grass and raced 59 yards for Franklin County’s first touchdown.
The Rebels struck again less than two minutes later.
Johnson worked inside his defender on a post, hauled in the pass near the 5 and shrugged off a tackler to complete a 36-yard touchdown with one minute remaining.
The Pioneers went to halftime tied 14-14 after controlling much of the opening half, but Belew said there was no need for an emotional overhaul in the locker room.
“We just went in and went to work,” said Belew. “Our assistant coaches did a great job just fixing mistakes. We’re not going to sit here and make it this big emotional experience. Coach (Josh) Harris went and made his corrections and then our offensive guys went in and made their corrections and our players just bought into it.”
Belew added, “The bend-don’t-break mentality of our defense saved the game.”
Warren County immediately showed its response on the first possession of the second half.
The Pioneers marched down the field and Whitman finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:27 left in the third quarter to put Warren County back ahead 21-14.
Franklin County needed only 70 seconds to answer.
Hayes found Johnson on a slant and the Rebel receiver spun outside before outrunning the defense to the pylon for a 26-yard touchdown. Johnson’s third score tied the game 21-21 with 5:17 remaining in the third.
Again, Warren County responded.
The Pioneers put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive, continually leaning on Whitman and the offensive line before turning to one of the seniors who had spent most of the night doing the dirty work.
Colton Wood leaked into the flat from the I-formation and Whitman found him for a 7-yard touchdown. Wood powered his way into the end zone to put Warren County back in front 28-21 with 2:05 left in the third.
“I want to shout out Colton Wood. He took something personal that I said to him a couple weeks ago. I said that he was a great blocking fullback and he did not like that,” Belew said on the WCSA Postgame show with a laugh. “The fact of him getting into the end zone tonight, it’s just extremely special because, like I said, him and Holder making that play, they’re just two kids that deserve it.”
Aguilar made sure Franklin County never got the chance to answer that touchdown.
His pick-six came on the Rebels’ next possession and Warren County suddenly had the first two-score advantage either team had enjoyed since the second quarter.
Belew thought few players deserved a moment like it more.
“That just kind of goes back to our kids’ character,” said Belew. “We talk about it all the time, being selfless, accountable, love the game and be tough. Aguilar exemplifies all of that.”
“He deserves that pick-six, that play, as much as anybody.”
The interception was one of three Warren County forced.
Carter Lee picked off Hayes and broke up three passes while Camron Holder added another interception and a sack. Ethan Holder and Redmore also recorded sacks as Warren County kept Franklin County scoreless for the final 17 minutes.
Hayes still finished 15-of-27 for 298 yards and three touchdowns, but his three interceptions proved costly. Johnson was the biggest problem for the Pioneer defense, catching nine passes for 198 yards and all three Rebel touchdowns.
Polkinghorn added 95 rushing yards on 13 carries while Hayes rushed for 71 yards.
For all the yardage Franklin County accumulated, the Pioneers kept finding ways to prevent drives from turning into points.
“They understand that really nothing matters until they get into the end zone,” said Belew. “We can get frustrated and coach things up as they’re inching toward the goal line, but the most important stat of each drive is zero points on the defensive side of the ball.”
Warren County didn't score again after Aguilar’s interception, but it didn't need to.
Whitman and the offensive line kept grinding away at Franklin County in the fourth quarter, moving the chains and taking time off the clock while the Pioneer defense continued turning the Rebels away.
Aguilar also contributed 37 rushing yards on 11 carries while Lee led Warren County with three catches for 26 yards. Romzek and Wood each made their lone reception count with touchdowns.
Aguilar saw all of those contributions as pieces of the same win.
“Everybody’s a team player. You can’t single somebody out. Everybody plays their role and every role is big,” said Aguilar. “The ball can’t move unless the O-line blocks. Football’s a team sport and I love all my guys.”
Warren County walked off Nunley Stadium at 2-2 after an 0-2 start for the second straight season under Belew. The Pioneers will take their two-game winning streak on the road next Friday against Hixson.
Aguilar wasn't interested in celebrating .500 for long.
“Feels good, but now we just got to build on that and prepare for next week.”
Warren County will travel to face Hixson at 7 p.m. The Warren County Sports Authority will be live on the road to broadcast the game.
Individual Game Stats
WC passing: AJ Whitman 8-of-11, 75 yards, 2 TD
WC rushing: Whitman 33 carries, 244 yards, 2 TD; Dylan Aguilar 11 carries, 37 yards; Cameron Redmore 3 carries, 6 yards
WC receiving: Carter Lee 3 catches, 26 yards; Wesley Romzek 1 catch, 25 yards, TD; Marek Sadlon 2 catches, 10 yards; Dylan Aguilar 1 catch, 7 yards; Colton Wood 1 catch, 7 yards, TD
WC kicking: Gavin Looper 4-of-5 PAT
WC punting: Oswaldo Duenas/Gavin Looper 5 punts, 127 yards
WC returns: Carter Lee 1 kick return, 26 yards
WC defensive highlights: Dylan Aguilar INT, pick-six; Camron Holder sack, INT; Carter Lee INT, 3 PBU; Ethan Holder sack; Cameron Redmore sack
FC passing: Baylor Hayes 15-of-27, 298 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
FC rushing: Logan Polkinghorne 13 carries, 95 yards; Hayes 10 carries, 71 yards; Jonah Holt 3 carries, minus-3 yards
FC receiving: Monte Johnson 9 catches, 198 yards, 3 TD; JT Baxter 1 catch, 55 yards; Austin Heath 3 catches, 34 yards; Jack Price 1 catch, 9 yards; Polkinghorne 1 catch, 2 yards
FC kicking: Weber Bradford 3-of-3 PAT
FC punting: Bradford 1 punt, 28 yards
FC returns: Polkinghorne 1 return, 19 yards
