Off to a ‘running’ start – WC pounds Shelbyville for 2nd win
|
Warren County’s punishing ground attack, led by fullback Morgan Wilcher and newcomer to the backfield Chase Officer, pounded out 335 yards of offense, and the Pioneer defensive unit pitched a shutout in the second half en route to a 35-14 win over Shelbyville.
The Pioneers improved to 2-0, while Shelbyville’s Golden Eagles lost their 12th straight and dropped to 0-2 for the season.
Wilcher finished with 20 bruising carries for 121 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown, while Officer, who moved from receiver to wing in place of the injured Taylor Holton, carried the ball 13 times for 110 yards and the Pioneers’ first score of the night.
‘I just tried to do my best for the team,’ said Officer, who practiced for the first time at his new position last week. ‘We practiced pretty hard for this game, and our coaches said (Shelbyville) had been talking some trash about ending their losing streak against us. So we just came out ready to play.’
The game featured an unexpected position change halfway through the action, as backup quarterback Ryan Daniel took charge of the team after Kyle Mullican left the game with an injured leg.
Daniel turned in a solid effort under center, leading three successful drives and carrying the ball himself seven times for five total yards, including a 1-yard quarterback sneak which provided the final points of the game.
The senior, who like Officer is also a regular with the defensive secondary, said he was a bit nervous when he was first sent in to play quarterback, but quickly settled into the role.
‘I was a little worried, and hoping Kyle would be back,’ he admitted, ‘but the line did a great job in front of me. I had plenty of help back there, and it made it easy for me to look for the running backs first, then try and work my way into the game.’
After punting the ball away on their first possession, the Pioneers took the ball right back from their guests on a fumble by Shelbyville QB Julian Haile. Officer gained nine yards on his first carry as a wingback, and three plays later scored his first touchdown of the year on an 11-yard run.
The Golden Eagles were forced to go three-and-out by the WCHS defense, and the Pioneers scored again on their next possession, with Mullican taking the ball in from the 1. Tony Garibaldi hit the second of his five point-after tries on the night, and WCHS led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Shelbyville used its speed to pull itself back into the game in the second, scoring on a 74-yard pass from Haile to Julius Smythe early in the quarter, and benefiting from three costly penalties to take on another TD as the first half ended. WCHS was called for holding, pass interference and roughing the passer during the 16-play, 80-yard drive, which ended when Haile found Emmanuel Andrews in the middle of the end zone.
Tied 14-all coming out of the break, the Pioneers battled back with a vengeance, holding their guests to just three first downs during the second half of play.
Lane McCoy, who was flagged for interference late in the second quarter, redeemed himself on the first drive of the third, scoring on a 5-yard run to give the Pioneers the lead for good.
McCoy came up with another big play late in the quarter, intercepting a Haile pass in the end zone to keep the Pioneers on top.
Warren County started the fourth with a 69-yard drive, needing jut seven plays ‘ including a 41-yard Jay Hutchings run ‘ before scoring on a 7-yard burst from Wilcher.
Travis Young broke up a pass on fourth-and-15 to end Shelbyville’s next possession, and the Pioneers answered with another TD, this time on Daniel’s 1-yard run. Shelbyville had one more shot at putting points on the board, but Haile fumbled the ball away with 20 seconds remaining, and freshman Cody Robinson recovered, allowing the Pioneers to run out the clock and preserve the win.
Hutchings finished with 54 yards rushing, and was one of eight different Pioneers to carry the ball during the winning effort. Only one pass was attempted by Warren County ‘ a second-quarter throw from Mullican to Hutchings which fell incomplete.
For the Golden Eagles, Haile completed 13-of-26 for 224 yards, with Andrews hauling in six balls for 68 receiving yards. Shelbyville rushed for just 46 yards on 27 carries.
The Pioneers open Region 3-5A play this Friday, when they play host to Franklin County.