UPDATE: Pioneers celebrate first win since 2001
But by the end of Friday night’s game between the Pioneers and the visiting Bradley Central Bears, two goalposts were reduced to twisted wreckage, a packed Nunley Stadium crowd was celebrating its hometown heroes, and 39 straight losses seemed like ancient history.
Quarterback Joshua Paz accounted for 240 total offensive yards, more than the entire Bears’ lineup, and scored three rushing touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 34-12 win, the first for the WCHS program since the 2001 season opener.
Jevon Ramsey added 115 yards and a touchdown, and the WCHS defense came away with three interceptions to hand Bradley its 13th straight defeat.
“It’s hard to describe,” said Pioneer head coach Chris Madewell, who earned his first-ever victory on the varsity level.
“This was something we worked so hard to get to, and now that we’ve got there, it’s a sense of excitement, of joy, and just of being so proud of these boys. They’ve come together, and I’m excited about the rest of the season now.”
See Sunday’s Southern Standard for complete coverage.
Tennessee Prep Scores
Friday’s scores
By The Associated Press
Austin-East 6, Red Bank 3
Baylor 34, Chattanooga Central 10
Bearden 7, Cumberland County 6
Boyd Buchanan 36, CPA 0
Brighton 55, Oakhaven 8
Cherokee 23, Rutledge 6
Chuckey-Doak 47, Unaka 38
Cloudland 18, Sullivan East 7
Coalfield 21, Cumberland Gap 19
Collierville 38, Hamilton 7
Covington 37, Raleigh Egypt 20
DCA 28, Jackson Christian 27
ECS 24, Cordova 0
Friendship Christian 14, Collinwood 0
Fulton City, Ky. 14, Greenfield 7
Fulton Co., Ky. 14, South Fulton 6
George Carver 40, Booker T. Washington 0
Gibson County 20, Fayette Ware 12
Gleason 12, Stewart County 3
Grace Baptist 44, David Brainerd 6
Harriman 21, Monterey 9
Haywood County 33, Manassas 0
Heritage 26, Seymour 12
King’s Academy 19, Silverdale Baptist Academy 2
Kingsport Dobyns Bennett 31, Elizabethton 6
Knoxville Catholic 45, Smith County 12
Knoxville Webb 20, Knoxville West 10
Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. 31, East Ridge 15
Lenoir City 26, Campbell County 6
McMinn Central 28, Bledsoe County 8
Memphis Catholic 22, Middleton 6
Morristown West 38, Swain County, N.C. 14
Oneida 21, Wartburg Central 8
Ooltewah 28, Cookeville 21
Page 13, Independence 7
Pearl-Cohn 19, Glencliff 16
Pigeon Forge 27, Tellico Plains 6
Pope John Paul II 20, Greenbrier 12
Ridgeway 27, Henry County 10
Riverdale 50, Siegel 3
Rosemark Academy 34, Arlington 12
Science Hill 46, Sullivan Central 0
Sequatchie County 28, Whitwell 6
Sevier County 25, William Blount 14
South Greene 27, Unicoi County 6
South Pittsburg 20, Greenback 16
St. Benedict 28, Fayette Academy 21
Sullivan South 42, Happy Valley 12
Sweetwater 21, Sequoyah 15
Trousdale County 31, Macon County 6
Warren County 34, Bradley Central 12
White House-Heritage 27, Sunbright 26
Wooddale 26, Hillcrest 12