Will the streak stop in ’05?
The recent struggles of the Warren County High School football program are infamous, having been repeated ad nauseum with each passing fall:
But through the past few years, as the varsity team continued to seek success, the younger levels of the program found a spark that grew into dominant campaigns.
First, the middle school program went from relative obscurity to an eight-game winner in 2002, under the tutelage of head coach Chris Madewell.
Success continued to build under Jeff Watson, whose seventh- and eighth-graders captured double-digit wins in 2003.
Both Madewell and Watson moved on to the high school, and so did the players from those winning programs — a combination Pioneer coaches and fans hope will finally translate to wins on the field this fall.
“It’s good to have peope on this team that know how to win,” Madewell said. “These sophomores coming up have won, and even these seniors have won at one point, back when they were at middle school. Hopefully some of that will come back, that remembering what it takes to win.”
The Pioneers’ biggest strengths this year look to be an experienced offensive backfield, as well as a solid linebacking corps.
Josh Paz, one of 17 seniors listed on the WCHS roster, returns to the No. 1 quarterback position, where he led the Pioneer offense with over 1,500 total yards last year, earning All-Region honors in the process.
Jevon Ramsey is expected to handle tailback duties, with Mikey Perkins opening the season as the first-string fullback.
On the other side of the ball, Pioneer fans will find another All-Region honoree from 2004 — as well as another Paz.
Junior Jon Paz, Josh’s brother, was the driving force behind the WCHS defensive unit last season, and expects to continue in that role this year. The squad’s leading tackler a season ago, Jon joins fellow junior Evan Moran to lead the linebackers.
“Defintely the experience is going to be a big thing for us this year,” Madewell noted. “We’ve got a lot of returners that got playing time last year, and that experience has showed in practices and scrimmage as we’ve been getting ready for this season.
“Defensively, our linebackers are our key, and even though they’re just juniors, they’ve got experience and have been really solid for us.”
When the Pioneers take to the air, as they were so often prone to do last season, a deep group of receivers will be in Paz’s sights.
Senior Nick Cantrell was Paz’s main target during summer passing league work, while Ethan Womack, Jon Creek and several others, including newcomer Adam Wood, have all looked to be capable wideouts.
“This year we’ll probably be kind of more ’50-50′ as far as running and passing the ball,” Madewell said, “but I feel like one great thing about this team is that we can do either. They’re both strong parts of our offense.”
But before any offensive or defensive play can be successful, things have to go well up front.
“Throughout all our scrimmages, no one can match up with our defensive line strength wise,” Madewell said. “We’ve got Todd Dunn up there, Mikey (Perkins), (Shane) Wilcher at nose, and (Chris) Rojas on end. They’re our strongest players, and they’ve looked good for us so far.”
The Pioneers have expressed concern about their lack of depth and experience on the offensive line, especially in recent weeks as a wave of injuries has crashed through the trenches.
Potential starter Isaac Slatton has been sidelined for much of the offseason with knee problems, recently undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Conova Qualls recently returned after being out following an appendectomy, and several other linemen have been working their way back from various strains, bumps and bruises.
But in the end, when everything’s added up, one question still lingers on Pioneer fans’ minds: Will this team end the streak?
Madewell, wisely, isn’t making any predictions for the squad’s record. But he has a feeling fans will be pleased with the product the Pioneers put on the field on Fridays this fall.
“I’m thinking people are going to be surprised at how hard we come out and hit, and how we attack,” he said. “With the athletic ability we have at our skill positions, and with the kids we’ve got, I feel like we can match up with anybody.”
Varsity Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time
Aug. 19 Bradley Central H 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 DeKalb Co. H 7:30
Sept. 2 Lincoln Co.* A 7:30
Sept. 9 White Co. A 7:30
Sept. 16 Cookeville* A 7:30
Sept. 23 Tullahoma A 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Cumberland Co.* A 7:30
Oct. 14 Franklin Co.*^ H 7:30
Oct. 21 Sequatchie Co. H 7:30
Oct. 28 Coffee Co.*# H 7:30
(* – Region 3-5A game; ^- Homecoming;
#- Senior Night)
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Varsity Roster
No. Name Pos. Class
1 Jacob Bratcher WR/DB Sr
2 Nick Cantrell WR/DB Sr
4 Ryan McGee WR/DB Sr
6 Tony Garibaldi P/K Soph
7 Josh Paz QB/DB Sr
8 Ben Dunn WR/DB Sr
9 Jevon Ramsey SR/DB Sr
10 Chase Basham WR/DB Jr
11 Chris Burris QB/DB Soph
12 Kyle Mullican QB/DB Soph
13 Casey Talbert QB/DB Soph
15 Chase Officer WR/DB Soph
19 Ethan Womack WR/DB Jr
20 Mikey Perkins RB/DL Sr
21 Bobby Bland RB/LB Jr
22 Shane Wilcher RB/DL Jr
23 Jacob Taylor WR/DB Sr
28 Brandon Rich RB/LB Soph
30 Jeff Judkins WR/DB Sr
31 Cody Spivey WR/DB Sr
35 Karlee Holcomb WR/DB Sr
40 Mark Chambers WR/DB Sr
41 Chris Rojas DE/OL Sr
42 Joseph Munoz DE/OL Jr
43 Evan Moran RB/LB Jr
46 Daniel Boyd OL/LB Soph
47 Aaron Thomas RB/LB Jr
49 Josh Burton WR/DB Soph
50 Todd Dunn OL/DL Jr
51 Ryan Watlington OL/LB Soph
52 Toby Watts OL/DL Soph
54 Ryan Ramsey OL/DL Sr
56 Jon Paz LB/OL Jr
57 Cody Bottoms OL/DL Soph
58 Michael Stevens OL/DL Soph
62 Scott Wood OL/DL Sr
63 Terrell Mathis OL/DL Jr
64 Trey Whitaker OL/DL Soph
65 Tydale Mathis OL/DL Soph
66 Isaac Slatton OL/DL Sr
73 Josh Roller OL/DL Jr
74 Conova Qualls OL/DL Soph
75 Lee Allen Turner OL/DL Soph
79 Brad Parker OL/DL Soph
80 Jon Creek WR/DB Sr
83 Chris Kirby OL/DE Jr
84 Adam Wood WR/DB Sr
86 Zeke Reedy OL/DL Jr
87 Cody Deason OL/DE Soph
88 Phil Hitchcock OL/LB Jr