WCMS rips Jackson; now 7-0

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Warren County Middle School quarterback Kyle Mullican (2) eludes a pair of tacklers during Tuesday night’s game against J.D. Jackson at Nunley Stadium. The Pioneers ran their undefeated streak to seven games with a 21-0 victory. (Rob Nunley photo)

Winchester’s J.D. Jackson Middle School came into Nunley Stadium Tuesday night looking to end Warren County Middle’s winning streak.

But the Trojans left a few hours later smarting from the Pioneers’ latest victory.

Warren County scored on its first two possessions to jump out to an early lead, and used a hard-ribbed defense to pick up a 21-0 victory, keeping its perfect record intact.

Posting two touchdowns after just four offensive plays put the (7-0) Pioneers on top, but it was a tough defensive front providing the pressure on the Trojans that truly set the tone in Tuesday’s contest.

WCMS held its guests to just one first down in the first half, and only four in the game. Through most of the first half the Pioneer defenders found their way into the backfield with little opposition, including the Trojans’ third possession, which featured three Pioneer sacks and a partially blocked punt.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Pioneers scored early and often against an out-matched Trojan defensive unit.

A 43-yard pass from Kyle Mullican to Lane McCoy gave Warren County a first down at the 1-yard line, and Mullican took the ball in himself for the Pioneers’ first touchdown.

After Jackson turned the ball over on downs on its ensuing drive, Warren County went to its newly installed shotgun offense, and Justin Bouldin took the ball 68 yards on a draw, finding the end zone on his team’s first play from scrimmage.

Carrying a 14-0 lead into the half, the Pioneers’ first drive of the third quarter ended with a J.D. Jackson interception. But the defensive unit stepped up after allowing the Trojans’ longest play of the game, a reverse pass that put JDJ across midfield.

Holding the Trojans and taking over on downs at Jackson’s 48, Bouldin scored his second TD on first down, scampering 48 yards down the left side for a score with just 37 seconds left in the quarter.

Tony Garibaldi, who celebrated his birthday by going a perfect 3-for-3 on extra point attempts, added the PAT to provide the Pioneers’ final margin of victory.

Bouldin finished with 159 yards on just 11 carries, while Brandon Rich added 37 yards on a pair of touches. Mullican completed 2-of-6 passes for 48 yards, but was intercepted twice.

The Pioneers will face their biggest challenge of the season next Tuesday, when they play host to Blackman Middle School. Kickoff for next week’s game is set for 6:30 p.m.