2007 THE YEAR IN LOCAL SPORTS-7. Pioneers return to playoffs

The Pioneer football players who helped end nearly four years of misery turned in another solid performance in 2007.

Coach Chris Madewell’s team boasted a 19-member senior class, and erupted onto the gridiron in late August, winning its first four games including shutouts over DeKalb County and neighboring rival White County.

A loss to Coffee County ‘ in a game which drew a record crowd of 4,000 fans ‘ followed, but the Pioneers bounced back two weeks later, clinching the school’s first-ever third straight playoff trip with a 48-0 dismantling of Cumberland County.

Heading back to Murfreesboro for a first-round playoff matchup against Riverdale, the (5-5) Pioneers held their own for much of the contest, trailing by just a touchdown at the half before falling by an eventual 28-7 margin.