Pioneers Facing Challenging Time Head On

The Warren County Pioneers are 0-5 to start the 2024 regular season and head coach Matt Turner said his players are facing adversity by lacing up their boots and going to work.

Through five games, the Pioneers have been outscored 213-14 and have not scored since their week 1 match-up with Dekalb County. Turner said while this is not what anyone in the program wants, there is a silver lining.

“It provides a lot of opportunity for adversity and an opportunity for the coaching staff and the young men to teach those life lessons that what makes the sport of football so great,” Warren said. “And of course, it’s been two fold a little bit. Some guys haven’t been able to handle that adversity and they choose to hang up the pads.”

An emphasis Turner has put on this season has been to control what is controllable and to not worry about things outside of the Pioneers control. He said the players that have stayed with the program are coming in with the right attitudes and noted what they are learning goes beyond the gridiron.

“We all know life is not fair and there’s adversity every day,” Turner said. “And what kind of character you have when you face that adversity is what we’re building of off. And celebrate the small successes and the little things and build of off them.”

With just five games remaining, Turner said that his players are still optimistic for this season and understand the “tough life lessons” being taught this season.

“The hard work is going to pay off,” Tuner said. “It may not be this Friday night on the scoreboard or next Friday night, but these boys know they’re learning how to hit adversity head on.”

Pioneers host Cookeville, Friday at 7pm.