WCMS tops Baird 14-6: Bouldin’s long TD seals win
Warren County Middle School’s football team kept its season-opening winning streak alive Tuesday night, downing Walter J. Baird on the road 14-6.
The Pioneers, 20-0 winners over Sparta last week, used a balance offense attack and stifling defense to down the Lebanon squad, and drew first blood in the second quarter on a 14-yard pass from Kyle Mullican to Lane McCoy.
Tony Garibaldi’s extra point made it a 7-0 game, and the Pioneers carried that lead into halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Baird’s offense finally produced at the beginning of the fourth, when a pass bounced out of the WCMS cornerback’s hands into the hands of a Baird receiver, who went in for a 67-yard touchdown and cut the Pioneer lead to a point.
The Pioneers answered the call quickly, however, scoring on their first play after the ensuing kickoff on a 62-yard touchdown run from Justin Bouldin.
Mullican ran the play flawlessly, turning upfield for about three yards before running into resistance and pitching the ball to Bouldin, who ran unfettered to the end zone.
Bouldin finished with 125 yards on 13 carries to lead the Pioneer rushing attack.
“That was a good-looking play,” said WCMS head coach Jeff Watson. “Kyle read their defense perfectly, and he pitched it at the last possible second. Nobody was anywhere near Justin, and he took it to the house.”
Bouldin finished with 125 yards on 13 carries to lead the Pioneers’ ground attack, while Mullican passed for 64 yards on four completions. McCoy led the receiving corps with two catches for 29 yards, while Chase Officer and Brandon Rich had catches for 28 and 7 yards, respectively.
The WCMS defense allowed just 85 rushing yards and recovered a fumble. When Baird went to the air, Warren County held them to just 89 yards, with Bouldin, McCoy and Andy Southard each recording interceptions.
Bouldin added to his offensive performance with three other defensive highlights, as he blocked a punt, broke up a pass on a 2-point conversion and recovered a Baird fumble.
Southard’s pick came at an opportune time, as he snagged a Baird pass late in the game, allowing the Pioneers to run out the clock and seal the win.
The Pioneers were scheduled to travel to Monterey Thursday night, and hit the road for Cookeville Sept. 11 for a matchup against Avery Trace.