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Pioneers fall to Franklin County
Warren County’s slide continued on senior night against Franklin County. The Pioneers lost 41-21 to the Rebels, falling for the sixth straight time this year. Warren County is now 1-8 overall this year and wasn’t able to win any of its four games at Nunley Stadium this year.
It was a tough night for the Pioneers, who gave up a season-high 424 yards to the fast Rebels. Warren County also had three turnovers, including one that was returned for a touchdown late in the first quarter that helped Franklin County get up 14-0.
Nate Elrod, one of 24 football seniors honored before the game, had a huge night in the loss. Elrod finished with two receiving touchdowns, 138 yards on kick returns, threw for 65 yards and rushed for 34 more. He had 321 total yards, the most he ever had in one game in his career.
Braylon Grayson was also big on his final game at Nunley Stadium. Grayson had 86 yards rushing and one touchdown. He also had a fumble recovery that he returned over 40 yards.
Elrod’s first touchdown catch came in the first half on a fade route on third down. Alex van Vuuren, who came back and played for the first time since being carted off against Coffee County on homecoming with a head injury, threw a ball up to the front pylon and Elrod jumped over a defender to make the play. It cut Franklin County’s lead to 14-7 at the time, but the Rebels were able to rebuild their lead to 27-7 by halftime.
Franklin County went to 7-2 with the win. The Rebels got a touchdown in the third quarter on a crazy play where their wildcat quarterback Ke’Andre Johnson tried to score from five yards out but fumbled at the one yard line. The Pioneers had two players try to grab the ball at the same time and it got knocked away and allowed one of the Rebels linemen to dive on it for a score in the endzone.
There were three touchdowns in the final 5:10 of the game. Grayson started the rapid scoring with a six yard run, giving him six rushing TDs this season. Manny Scott, who led the Rebels with 115 yards rushing and two scores, had a 10 yard scoring run with 54 seconds left.
On the next play from scrimmage, van Vuuren hit Elrod right in the numbers on a deep ball that went for 66 yards. It was Elrod’s second TD for the game and he now leads the Pioneers with 287 yards receiving despite starting seven of eight games at quarterback.
Squad 54 will try to end its season on a good note next Friday when they go take on the Lebanon Blue Devils. Lebanon is 7-2 this year and won last year’s meeting between the Region 3-6A teams 42-0 at Nunley Stadium.
We want to thank our Facebook Live Game Sponsor Coffee Bank and Trust for their continued support this season and for helping us give Pioneer Nation live video from every game this year.
Coach Turner talks about the seniors and the game Thursday night
Facebook videos sponsored by Coffee Bank and Trust!
Final Stats for Warren County
Passing – Alex van Vuuren 2-for-3, 84 yards, 2 TD, Nate Elrod 4-for-12, 65 yards
Rushing – Braylon Grayson 10 carries, 86 yards, TD, Nate Elrod 13 carries, 34 yards, Dawson Haley 7 carries, 25 yards, PJ Truax 3 carries, 3 yards, Jonathan Martinez 1 carry, 2 yards, Alex van Vuuren 1 carry, -1 yard
Receiving – Nate Elrod 2 catches, 84 yards, 2 TD, Alex van Vuuren 2 catches, 59 yards, Braylon Grayson 2 catches, 6 yards
Kicking – Beckham Scott 3-for-3 on PAT, Bryan Holguin 2 punts, 44 yards
Returns – Nate Elrod 4 kick returns, 138 yards, Braylon Grayson 1 kick return 31 yards, Jonathan Martinez 1 kick return, 21 yards, Isaiah Robledo 1 kick return, 15 yards