Freshmen rally over Raiders

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Justin Bould (32) tries to barrel his way through a host of Red Raider defenders during the Pioneer’s freshman football game at Coffee County Thursday night. Bouldin scored three TDs in the WCHS win. (Rob Nunley photo)

MANCHESTER — At the beginning of the summer, WCHS freshman Justin Bouldin had decided to take a year off from football.

After Thursday night, the Pioneers were happy he changed his mind.

Bouldin scored three touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards Thursday as the Pioneers rallied from a 16-6 deficit to take a 23-16 win over Coffee County Central.

The standout tailback, who set records at Warren County Middle a year ago, only had about a week to practice prior to Thursday’s season opener, as a broken toe had kept him out of action during much of the preseason.

But he looked true to form on the Pioneers’ first possession, going 21 yards on his first carry and eventually scoring the team’s first touchdown on a 4-yard run.

“The line came out and opened some holes for me, and I just tried to hit them,” he said after the game. “I was able to get some pretty good gains.”

Coffee County’s Justin Kendrick, who finished with 195 rushing yards, put his team ahead late in the first quarter with a 2-yard run and the ensuing 2-point conversion. Kendrick went in from the 1 midway through the second quarter, and another conversion made it a 16-6 game.

Warren County’s defense stepped up after their offense went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, as Andy Southard recovered a Raider fumble. Bouldin then scampered 43 yards on first down, scoring to cut the Pioneer deficit to 16-12.

But making big plays on offense was just part of Bouldin’s contribution on Thursday night.

On Coffee’s next possession in the second quarter, the Raiders attempted a toss sweep to the right side of the Pioneer line. Bouldin, who was sent on a blitz on the play, snatched the toss from the Raider quarterback, and sprinted 66 yards downfield for his third TD of the game. Quarterback Kyle Mullican went in for the conversion, giving WCHS a 20-16 lead.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers’ offense stalled at the Raider 20. But kicker Tony Garibaldi sent the ball over the uprights for a 37-yard field goal to account for the final margin of victory.

An interception by Brandon Rich early in the fourth, and a defensive stand resulting in a turnover on downs late in the game helped the Pioneers hold on for the seven-point victory.

“We didn’t really play well, not the way we’re capable of playing,” said WCHS coach Jeff Watson. “I really thought we were fortunate to be able to come away with a win.

“We got some good breaks, and made some big plays on defense that helped us stay in the game. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, and we’re still a long way away from where we want to be as a team.”

The Pioneers return to action Sept. 2, at home against White County.