Pioneers ready to face Sparta on road Friday
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Yes, they came within inches of what would have been a huge victory over Lincoln County last Friday. But Monday began a new week of preparation, and Warren County’s sights are now set on exacting some revenge on this Friday’s foe.
Coach Chris Madewell’s Pioneers will take their 2-1 record to Sparta Friday night, for a non-region tilt against a White County High School squad which embarrassed them a season ago.
“I told the guys after the (Lincoln County) game, ‘If you can’t get up for Sparta, you just must not be from Warren County,'” Madewell said after his team’s 20-13 overtime loss to the Falcons last Friday.
He could have amended his statement to say if the team can’t “get up” for this week’s game, then they must not remember last year’s matchup with the Warriors.
Facing off at Nunley Stadium, the Warriors entered last year’s game with a 1-2 mark, while Warren County was 0-3, but filled with confidence it could end what at the time was a 32-game losing streak.
Four minutes — and two White County plays — into the contest, though, it was clear the Warriors would prevail.
J.J. Taylor ran a reverse 37 yards after White County picked up a Pioneer fumble for the first score, and Cory Crain went 49 yards on a QB keeper after an interception ended Warren’s second drive.
Still up 14-0 at the half, the Warriors posted 16 more points in the third quarter and left McMinnville with a 30-7 victory.
At the time, Madewell noted: “Maybe we were a little over-confident, but we just weren’t prepared to come out and do what we were supposed to do.”
This year, however, the Pioneers have seemed more than prepared. And Madewell said his team’s standing toe-to-toe with the Falcons should provide plenty of positive momentum.
“(Friday night) can be a huge boost for us,” he said. “They’ve worked so hard, and they’re not going to let one loss bring them down.”
Friday’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Inside The Numbers
25: Spots on the “Sonny Moore Tennessee High School Football Power Ratings” the Pioneers climbed after last Friday’s 20-13 overtime loss at Lincoln County (From 227 to 202, 95.14 power rating).
20: Spots Lincoln County dropped in the same poll (From 39 to 59).
1: Combined first-quarter touchdowns allowed by the Pioneer defense through three games this season.
1: Number of offensive plays needed by White County to score a touchdown in the first quarter of last year’s game against Warren County.
32.46: Points scored per game by Warren County through its first three games.
10.9: Points per game average for Warren County through the entire 2004 season.
106.53: White County’s power rating after last week’s win over Walker Valley.
14.39: Points spread for Friday’s game, according to the Moore ratings (giving White Co. three additional points for home-field advantage).
— Compiled by Rob Nunley