Warriors defeat Tigers 31 – 7 in Homecoming Game

It was Homecoming Week in White County. While there were games and events and festivities and parades all week long, the thing that really mattered was what would happen under the Friday Night Lights at the end of the week. The Warrior football team ended the week with another statement win. 

After the Dekalb County Tigers first drive of the game stalled, White County’s JoJo Dowell blocked their punt attempt. While the Tigers recovered the ball, they weren’t able to advance it for a first down and the Warriors took over at their own 27-yard line. However, when they couldn’t move more than five yards in three tries, it was senior Noah Skeith who put the first points on the board as he split the uprights.  

The Tigers responded with a score of their own. After both teams traded a pair of series that resulted in punts, Dekalb County managed the first first-down of the game with five minutes left in the first quarter. They followed that first down with another that moved them into Warrior territory for the first time. While the Tigers couldn’t get a lot going on the ground, a few quick passes had them at the White County 12-yard line as the first quarter expired. One play, seven seconds is all Dekalb County needed after the teams’ switched sides to start the second frame.  

But that seven points would be all the Tigers would get Friday night. After a tough first quarter in which they didn’t manage more than six offensive plays and never moved the chains, the Warriors’ offense settled in and got back to the business of putting points on the board.  

White County’s next drive was full of starts and stops and sputters until quarterback Tucker Pinion threw the ball 45 yards downfield trying to hit a speedy Bryson Hogg on a third-and-twelve play. The ball was placed perfectly, and the Tigers were called for pass interference as they hit the White County receiver too early. Given a new set of downs in Dekalb territory, the Warriors offense started pushing the pace of the game and picking up yards.  

With the ball at the 28 and five and a half minutes left in the half, Pinion looked like he was going to keep the ball for a QB run. However, at the last second, he pitched the ball back to Cole Sims who took it the entire 28 yards for the score. The teams would head to the locker room at half time with the Warriors leading 10-7.  

The Tigers appeared like they weren’t going to let the Warriors have an easy second half. After converting a third and one, it took them just one play to move inside the red zone. White County’s Carter Rich saved a touchdown when he ran the Dekalb ball carrier down at the fifteen-yard line. After another play set the Tigers up with a first and goal, senior nose tackle Hunter Broyles signaled White County coaches with a change to the defensive scheme. With Broyles’ awareness adjusting the Warrior defense, freshman Tristan Cavanaugh intercepted the Tigers’ quarterback in the end zone to end any hope they had of regaining the lead.  

The momentum had officially swung in the Warriors'’ favor. Set up at their own twenty-yard line after the turnover resulted in a touchback, Cole Sims, who has been averaging 158 yards per game, took the ball from Pinion on White County’s first offensive play of the second half and ran the full 80 yards to extend the Warriors score by another seven points.  

A nine-yard sack by Lex Winfree set the Tigers back deep in their own territory leading to a punt that would give White County back the ball near midfield. Some solid runs by Cole Sims, another pass interference call against Dekalb County, and the Warriors were knocking on the red zone’s door again. On a third and two, Sims fumbled the ball as he tried to push through the line, however, it would be Broyles who would recover for a Warrior first down just outside the ten-yard line. Two plays later and it was JoJo Dowell who took the ball into the endzone to make the score 24 – 7. 

After the Warriors forced another punt from the Tigers, they set about to run the clock down as far as possible. In the process, they found their way to another score. Solid runs by Sims, Dowell, and Pinion kept the ball moving forward and the minutes ticking down. With just over three minutes left on the game clock, White County found themselves set up with a first and goal at the Dekalb County eight-yard line.  

Carter Rich, who had two carries for two yards on the season, prior to Friday night, got the call twice to double his season total. It was his second run, assisted by Broyles grabbing hold and pulling him along, that would put another seven points on the Warriors’ side of the score board. 

The 31 – 7 win is the seventh of the season for the Warriors and their third in district play. White County has won six straight games to bring their overall record to 7-1. The Warriors have a bye next week as White County is on fall break, but their 3-0 division record will be put to the test in two weeks when they travel to Upperman to take on the Bees, who are also perfect in division play.