WCMS opens season in style: Bain, Hillis lead Pioneers to victory
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Quarterback Levi Bain rushed for a pair of touchdowns, and Dexter Hillis sprinted for 87 yards on seven carries as WCMS kicked off the 2002 campaign with a 12-8 win over visiting DeKalb County Middle.
The victory, WCMS’s seventh straight stretching back to last season, kicked off the head coaching career of Jeff Watson, who credited his team’s success against the Saints to the hard work put in over the preseason by his coaching staff of Jeff Lee, Donnie Harris, Ray Robinson, Randy Mullican and Jameson Bouldin.
“I’ve got a great bunch of coaches, and their hard work is the reason we were able to come out and play so well tonight,” Watson said.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Pioneers got things going near the end of the half after taking the ball at their own 39. Hillis picked up 27 yards on a sweep around the right side, giving the Pioneers a first down at the Saints’ 20, but the DCMS defense stepped up, forcing a fourth-and-5 situation at the 15-yard line with just over a minute to play.
The Pioneers went for the first down, and Bain connected with Ethan Womack on a quick pass that gave WCMS first-and-goal. One play later, Bain went in from the 6 to score the first touchdown of the year.
Early in the third quarter, a fumble by the Saints’ Josh Ward was recovered by Warren County’s Justin Childress at the Pioneer 7, and it took just two plays for Bain to go in from the 4 and give his team a 12-0 lead.
DeKalb County quarterback Justin Atnip went in from the 2 on the Saints’ next possession, with a long run by Ward — who finished with 116 yards on 11 carries — setting up the score. Kalvin Peace went in for the 2-point conversion, cutting the WCMS lead to 12-8, but Warren County was able to burn all but the final 31 seconds off the clock and hold on for the win.
Watson credited his team’s success moving the football — which included 43 yards on nine carries from Justin Bouldin and 27 on 12 attempts from Bain — to strong play up front.
“Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line,” he said. “They stepped up and got the job done tonight, and coach Harris did a great job calling the plays we needed to run the ball effectively.”
As for notching his first win as a head coach, Watson noted while he’s excited to have one in the books, there is still a long way to go for his Pioneer team.
“It’s a good feeling, getting that monkey off my back,” he said, “but this is a process.
“We’re not there yet, and we’ve got a long way to go. But we’re getting better every week, and I’m really proud of this bunch of guys.”
The Pioneers return to action Tuesday, when they play host to Scott Junior High at 7 p.m.