Pioneers hoping they can ‘pound’ Chatt. Central
Two teams coming off opening-week losses will face off tonight, when the Pioneers travel to take on the Chattanooga Central Pounders.
But other than their respective results from last Friday, there aren’t too many similarities between tonight’s opponents.
The Pioneers — who have lost their last 30 games in a row — enter tonight’s game coming off a 47-7 loss to Livingston from a week ago. Chattanooga Central, on the other hand — a playoff participant for two straight years — was edged last Friday by Notre Dame, 15-14, due to a failed 2-point conversion in the game’s final minute.
Pioneer coach Chris Madewell said a strong start will be a must if his squad hopes to be successful tonight. He added he has stressed this week that the Pioneers must avoid a weak performance out of the gate — such as last week’s, which saw WCHS give up 28 first-quarter points — if they want to be competitive.
“We cannot start out like Warren County started out last week, or really for the last two years,” he said. “Something major just always seems to happen in the first few minutes of the game.
“But if we can come out and play tough, and stay in it through the first half, we can carry some momentum in the second and make some good things happen.”
One Pioneer who will not be “in it” through the first half — or the second, for that matter — is Jevon Ramsey. The junior tailback suffered a strained knee ligament, and will be out of action this weekend. Doctors have instructed Ramsey to avoid over-using his knee until at least next Wednesday. Seniors Eli Smith and Heath Crisp are expected to handle much of the team’s duties at tailback tonight.
“Jevon’s not going to be able to play Friday night, but more than likely he’ll be able to play next Friday,” Madewell said. “But we’ll have Eli, and we can move Heath and some others back there if we have to, so we should be OK.”
When the Pounders have the ball tonight, they’re expected to rely on a quick backfield and a capable passing attack.
Last week against Notre Dame, 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior Robert Woods rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries, while quarterback John Cornett rushed for one TD and threw for another, despite completing only seven of his 22 pass attempts. A fumble proved especially costly for CCHS, as it was returned by Notre Dame for what would eventually be the game-winning score.
“Offensively, they looked pretty strong running the ball, and they’ll spread it out and throw some,” Madewell said. “They just didn’t complete their passes, and they had some fumbles that really cost them.
“If they would’ve completed some of their passes, it would’ve been a different story in that game. So who knows if their quarterback is going to be on or off.”
The Pounder defensive unit held Notre Dame to 98 total yards last week, and is led by Brent Hayes, who missed last year with an injury but was an all-stater two years ago. Hayes turned in a strong effort last week, including an interception that set up his team’s first touchdown.
“They’ve got a lot of quickness, and a strong, strong defense,” Madewell said. “For us to move the ball, we’re going to have to play tough.”
Kickoff tonight is scheduled for 6:30 central time.