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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Polk County runs through Pioneers, wins 20-0 [photos]

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd /
Polk's Kyle Dunn (13) scores a Wildcat touchdown as East Ridge's Zian Daniels (33) attempts to push him out of bounds. The East Ridge Pioneers hosted the Polk County Wildcats in TSSAA football action on August 14, 2018.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Polk's Kyle Dunn (13) scores a Wildcat touchdown as East Ridge's Zian Daniels (33) attempts to push him out of bounds. The East Ridge Pioneers hosted the Polk County Wildcats in TSSAA football action on August 14, 2018.

Polk County’s far from flashy style showed Friday night how effective smashmouth football can be.

Behind 256 yards on the ground on 61 carries by six ball carriers, the Wildcats bruised East Ridge in a 20-0 shutout win at Raymond James Stadium.

“If you go back 19 years you’d see us trying to win games the same way,” Polk County coach Derrick Davis said. “Our style is not for everybody. If you like big plays and the ball being thrown around, you won’t like watching us play, but that’s just our style and it works for us.”

After the Pioneers went three-and-out on their first possession, Polk County quarterback Nate Waters put the game’s first points on the board with a 10-yard touchdown run on the Wildcats’ 12th play.