The White County Warriors controlled the tempo and the line of scrimmage Friday night in Sparta, ending Tullahoma’s three-game winning streak with a 24-13 victory at Dee Harris Field.
Tullahoma (3-1) returns to Wilkins Stadium this Friday to host Nolensville (2-2). The Knights fell to Blackman 42-7 on Friday. White County (3-1) travels to Region 4-4A rival Livingston Academy this week. Tullahoma plays every Friday night on 93.9 The Duck.
The Warriors used the ground game, rushing 49 times for 251 yards and all three touchdowns, while throwing only five passes for 41 yards. Tullahoma never got its running game going, rushing 22 times for 81 yards. Wildcat defensive lineman Junior Mares had multiple tackles for loss and was named the MidTown Nutrition Player of the Game.
“All of our goals are still out there for us to achieve,” said Wildcat Head Coach Coy Sisk. “Yes, the pressure of an undefeated season is off, and we will start getting ready for Nolensville tomorrow.”
White County converted three Tullahoma turnovers into 14 points, scoring twice in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats scored the final touchdown, but it was too late as the Warriors ran out the final three minutes and 38 seconds. White County held the football for 29 minutes, while the Wildcats held it for 19.
Behind QB Tucker Pinion and running back Cole Sims, the Warriors took the opening kickoff and drove 56 yards on 10 plays, scoring on a 19-yard run by Sims to take a 7-0 lead with 6:21 left in the first quarter.
Starting at its 32, Tullahoma picked up two first downs, but a holding penalty slowed the drive, and the Cats punted. The Warriors punted it back to Tullahoma after a five-minute drive. Taking over at its 41, Tullahoma drove 59 yards on 11 plays, including three Lucas Reed passes to Alex Bobo, and Marvancy Johnson scored his 12th touchdown of the season from nine yards away. Chase Dodson’s PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 3:36 remaining in the half.
White County ran off the final three minutes, with placekicker Noah Skeith nailing a 33-yard field goal to give the Warriors a 10-7 lead at halftime. Tullahoma only ran 20 plays in the first half, gaining 99 yards. In its first three games, the Wildcats outscored their opponents 69-20 in the second half, so there was no panic for the Cats.
On the second play of the second half, Eli Smith intercepted Lucas Reed and returned it to the Wildcat 32-yard line. However, Tullahoma’s defense stopped the Warriors for the first time, forcing an incompletion on fourth down.
The Wildcat offense couldn’t convert, but the defense stepped up and forced Warrior punts on their next two possessions. Tullahoma took over at its 41-yard line with 2:27 left in the third quarter. However, on second-and-ten, QB Patrick Riddle fumbled and White County recovered.
The home team drove 42 yards on seven plays, scoring on an 11-yard run by Sims to take a 17-7 lead with 10:43 remaining. Reed, back in at quarterback for the Cats, was intercepted at the White County 45, and the Warriors drove 56 yards in six plays, scoring on a five-yard run by Sims.
Tullahoma overcame another holding penalty and drove 57 yards on six plays, with Johnson scoring on a 13-yard run. The drive included a 27-yard run by Reed and a 21-yard reception by Gavin Seaboldt from Reed. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Warriors ran out the clock.
Unofficially, Reed was 10-19 for 121 yards, while Riddle completed 1-2 for 12 yards. Bobo caught five for 64 yards. Johnson was held to 41 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns, with Reed leading Tullahoma in rushing with 45 yards on eight carries. Johnson has scored 13 touchdowns in four games, averaging 19 points per game.
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