Yorkville School
GAME SCHEDULE MEET THE PLAYERS
HISTORY
Sometimes changing the way we do things becomes necessary. Five years ago, a change was in the best interest for a few local jr. high football programs.In the mid-1980s, in the early years of the Gibson Co. School District, Springhill and Yorkville combined to play football, and Rutherford had their own jr. high team. As time went on, kids seem to get other interests, and the overall numbers of these two programs dwindled. “It was getting to the point where we had to have 5th graders just to have enough to practice, and in some instances, starting. It was a major disadvantage in experience and in a lot of instances, a safety issue.” Said former Springhill-Yorkville and Jr.Pioneer coach David Brewer. “Also some of those years, there was just not enough boys in some of the classes.”
In the Fall of 2002, the decision was made to combine these two teams just to survive. But, there was also a long term goal. Hopefully, at some point, the combination of the three schools would serve as a way to get the players working together sooner, and that this might benefit the transition from the jr. high program to the high school program. The first two years were difficult, getting the schools, communities, and in some instances, the players to buy into the new idea. Then on August 17, 2004, the Jr.Pioneers recorded their first victory with a 14-0 score over T.C.A. of Jackson and support and interest began to grow. Since then, the Jr.Pioneers have been able to put together a couple of (4) win seasons.”The new players and parents coming aboard now don’t really know any different and work together great, as was evidenced at the Jr.Pioneer “Meet the Players” earlier this year,” stated Jr. Pioneer coach, Joey Harrison. “We had a huge turnout.”
This year marks the first time that the Jr.Pioneers were able to defeat Dyer and Medina in the same year, and the first time to beat Medina period. And now, with the return of the original ‘Pioneer Bowl’ format, the Gibson Co. Jr. Pioneers will play in the 2006 game.
The Jr. Pioneers still have a long way to go, but they have also come a long way. It is still a very challenging situation. The logistics and co-ordination of players, cheerleaders, and coaches can be difficult at times. But everything always seems to come together. The administrators, secretaries, coaches, cheerleader sponsors, teachers, and parents, but most of all the players (past and present) of these three schools have learned to work together and help make this program a success.
Jr. Pioneer staff
Mr. Richard Edwards, Mr. Jody Hinson, and Mr. Joey Harrison.
