Armchair Quarterback: Pioneers’ first real test coming up
I’ll bet DeKalb County was like Bradley Central in that during the preseason, they had their visit to Nunley Stadium circled as a potential win.
I’d say there are a lot of calendars being adjusted right about now, as those circles are being erased and replaced by notations to view game film.
The Pioneers over their first two games are looking like a powerhouse, a million miles away from the team which lost 39 straight.
Once again Friday night, Josh Paz looked sharp in stretching the field and Jevon Ramsey was explosive from the line of scrimmage. In addition to those performances, you’ve got to give game balls to Kyle Mullican, who took the opening kickoff back 98 yards, and Jacob Bratcher who returned the subsequent punt 92 yards to the house.
If special teams are the X-factor in football, then you combine the return teams with the kicking of Tony Garibaldi and you’ve got one well-rounded team. By the way, there was a scout sitting up on the visitor’s side Friday night who compared the sophomore kicker’s leg to that of Jeff Hall out of Franklin County, the same Jeff Hall who ended up going pro. Hey, if Garibaldi keeps progressing, then college tuition to a major university won’t be a problem.
With that said, this Friday begins a long road trip as the Pioneers have the next five on the road, beginning with a trip to “The Pit” where they will be play perennial powerhouse Fayetteville. The Falcons, who haven’t been beaten by a Warren County team since the mid-1980s when the Pioneers knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round by a count of 7-0, are coming off a major 42-19 drubbing of Blackman.
Of course, the Falcon season didn’t start well as they were humbled at home 56-6 by a very good Franklin team in week zero. This is the same Franklin team rated in the top 10 in 5A and the same Franklin team which lost in the finals to Riverdale last season.
And, while I’m speaking of Riverdale, which is so good they now have to go out of state to find opponents, beating Worthington-Kilbourne of Ohio 26-7 Friday night, did you know the Pioneers have outscored them so far by a count of 84 to 76 and they have also outgained them yardagewise 715 to 687? Yeah, I know it’s apples to oranges, but hey, I hold a grudge. I even still take delight in the year in the mid-1980s when the Pioneers blanked the Warriors in Murfreesboro 2-0.
But anyway, the upcoming trip to Fayetteville will an interesting one seeing it will gauge how far the Pioneers have come. A win there, and I advocate a parade for the Pioneers when they return seeing only Cookeville is better on the Pioneer schedule this year — the same Cookeville team which murdered what was supposed to be the best White County team in a quarter century Friday night by a count of 35-6.
I don’t know whether Fayetteville is down or up this year, but rest assured, even a down Falcon team is tough when playing in “The Pit.” Should the Pioneers decide to give up over 130 yards in penalties like they did against DeKalb Friday, with many of those lengthening drives, then it’s going to be a tough road trip as Fayetteville will not be as forgiving as the Tigers were.
Regardless of the outcome this Friday, the 2005 Pioneers have renewed excitement in football here as evidenced by the sea of red at Nunley. I guess we’re about to find out if they can take it on the road where success is measured not by cheers, but by boos, bleachers clearing at the end of the third and stunned silence.