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The Tullahoma High School football team came off the bye week and went to McMinnville and picked up a 32-7 victory.

Tullahoma’s defense showed out, allowing a total of negative 2 yards in the first half. They came up inches short of scoring as time in the half expired when Aiden Kelley was marked down inside the 1 on an interception return.

Marvancy Johnson led the team with scoring three touchdowns, including a return of the second half kickoff. Khani Johnson had the other two scored, catching a pair of touchdown passes from Lucas Reed.

The Wildcats return home this week for a matchup with 1-7 Spring Hill for Homecoming. Tullahoma has a 5-3 record now and are 3-1 in district, which is good enough for third in the district.

Tullahoma’s defense took the field first and made the stop after allowing a first down on a spectacular third down catch. The ‘Cats first drive started at their own 48. The offense ran it three straight times then hit K. Johnson on a screen that got the ball to the 7. Then back to back runs by M. Johnson scored the first touchdown. The kick was no good, so they led 6-0 with 6:03 left in first quarter. The defense forced a three and out, but the punt was fumbled and recovered by Warren County. They thought they picked up their second first down, but a hold brought it back. Then the snap was fumbled which made it fourth and 8. The punt was fallen on at the Tullahoma 37 with 1:32 left in the quarter. A Reed pass left to K. Johnson gained 10. Then M. Johnson ran left, he made a man miss and took it all the way to the house outrunning the last man for his second score. The 2-point try was no good, making it 12-0 with 48.3 left in the first quarter. The pioneers ran up the middle for a gain of 5 to take it to the second quarter 12-0.

Warren County opened the second quarter picking up their second first down on an outside run to the 44, DeAndre Jenkins pushed him out of bounds. The next run was stuffed by Robert Tatum. After a delay of game, the quarterback was sacked back at the 30 by Beau Williams to make it third and 24. Williams and Bronson Bunch made the stop at the 24 to make it fourth and 30. Tullahoma’s drive started at their own 47. M. Johnson ran left for a first down at the Warren County 42. He had a big run left, but a flag for holding backed it up to the 48. A screen right to K. Johnson gained 7. A fake screen to K. Johnson with a pass over the middle to Alex Bobo moved the ball to the 23. M. Johnson ran left to the 16. He got it again, bounced right and got to the 9. Reed threw his first touchdown pass to K. Johnson on a slant in the end zone. The extra point was blocked, so Tullahoma led 18-0 with 5:44 left in the first half.

The ‘Cats’ defense forced a three and out, but a flag for pass interference moved the chains. A flea flicker type of trick play was stopped back at the 23 when Creed Adams tripped up the quarterback before he could get away and throw the ball. One play later Eli Bergert blew up a direct snap to the running back to force fourth and 21. M. Johnson returned the punt to the 31. A screen left to Bobo gained 6. An offside penalty gave Tullahoma the first down at the 20. Another screen, this time to M. Johnson got another first down at the 10. A run up the middle was stopped for no gain, then Reed threw the ball to K. Johnson in the end zone on a fade route for the 10 yard score. The kick was good, making it 25-0 with 35.2 left in the half. On the last play of the half Kelley picked the ball off and returned it inside the 1 before going down after time expired, the ‘Cats led 25-0.

Tullahoma was receiving the ball to open the second half, M. Johnson caught the kick and then took it all the way for the touchdown. The kick was good giving Tullahoma a 32-0 lead just 17 seconds into the third quarter. The defense forced another three and out. Tullahoma took most of the starters out. Patrick Riddle hit Julian Cole on third down for a gain of 15, but it brought up fourth and 5. Sam Bobo’s punt was downed at the 12. Against the backup defense, Warren County went down the field and intro the end zone on six straight runs. This was the first time the Pioneers scored since August 23. The score became 32-7 with 31.6 left in the third quarter. Dominick Harris ran left for a gain of 11 to the 41 for a first down on the last play of the third quarter.

After a pair of runs for no gain and a problem with a snap, Tullahoma had to punt. On Warren County’s drive they faces a fourth and 8 with 5:30 left. Tullahoma got pressure on the play to force the quarterback to quickly throw the ball, forcing a turnover on downs. Jakoby Hill ran twice for 10 yards, then Harris picked up a first down with less than 3 minutes remaining. The next snap was fumbled and recovered by Warren County. With less than a minute left the Pioneers fumbled and Jakin Lovett recovered it with 32.8 left. Harris ran for a gain of 12 and then the Wildcats let the clock run out to win 32-7.