McMINNVILLE—All the signs were there. The Tullahoma Wildcats (3-2) headed to Warren County Friday night pretty much certain to have a struggle on their hands. First of all, the Cats are terribly banged up with seven starters sidelined for the game. Add the fact that the non-region contest is sandwiched between a pair of vital region contests. Then, and this was the biggest factor of all, take into account that the Wildcats were walking into a homecoming setting against a big, rugged Pioneer team that simply lines up and pounds you all night long.

Senior quarterback Cass Barnes fights to escape the grasp of a Warren County defender during Friday night's 27-21 Wildcat win.

  The end result was a work of art: A 27-21 Wildcat win. But, the game itself wasn’t exactly something they’ll want framed and exhibited for posterity. The Wildcats had two fumbled punts that set up Pioneer touchdown drives of 16 and 13 yards, and they had two touchdowns of their own called back for penalties.
  But, considering all the injury problems and the physical nature of the contest, coach John Olive and staff have to be pretty satisfied with they way their team hung in there and, finally, rallied from a 21-14 fourth-quarter deficit with two touchdowns to seal the win.
  And, they had to be happy with the play of junior running back Bobby Dowdell who had several long runs and filled in admirably for injured starter Ryan Bean. Dowdell scored the Cats’ first touchdown on a three-yard run after Cass Barnes hit Dylan Cross with a 43-yard strike to the three-yard line.
  Tullahoma’s defense held the Pioneers on the next possession but a fumbled punt gave Warren County the ball on the Wildcat 16, and they went on to tie the game 7-7.
  Dowdell had an 80-yard touchdown run on the next possession, but a block in the back several yards behind the play as he neared the goal line brought it back to the 27, which reduced Dowdell’s great effort to 53 yards rather than 80. It turned out OK, though, when Barnes hit Chance Askins with a 15-yard touchdown pass that would give the Cats a 14-7 advantage they took to half-time.
  After holding the Pioneers on the first possession of the second half, Tullahoma again fumbled the punt, and Warren County recovered on the 13 and made short work of it to tie the game at 14-14.
  The Pioneers connected on a 79-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game, 21-14, but the Cats responded immediately with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Barnes to Cross. After the Pioneers were forced to punt on their next possession, Tullahoma again responded with a touchdown drive capped off by Barnes eight-yard run.