Experience gives WCMS football a different look in 2026

For White County's middle school football program, every season usually begins with uncertainty. Players graduate, new faces step into starting roles, and coaches spend the first several weeks figuring out exactly what kind of team they have.

White County Middle School enters the 2026 season in a different position.

When the Warriors open their season Aug. 13 at Prescott, they'll do so with a roster that has something head coach Aaron Brown says has often been in short supply at the middle school level: experience.

Brown, now entering his sixth season leading the program, said this group has spent years playing football together, giving the Warriors a foundation they haven't always enjoyed.

"Most of the team has played many, many years of football," Brown said when asked about his team's greatest strength. "That has not always been the case here."

That experience has shaped the focus of preseason practices. Rather than spending all of camp introducing players to the game, Brown has challenged them to take ownership of the team by developing leaders from within.

He expects players such as Eston Humphrey, Tanner Steele, Caleb Steele, Darius Jackson and Julian Seeley to help set that example throughout the season.

While experience can provide confidence, Brown knows it doesn't guarantee success.

His biggest concern isn't talent or football knowledge. Instead, he wants to see his players remain disciplined enough to handle the small details that often determine the outcome of close games over the course of an eight-week regular season.

"Staying disciplined enough to do the little things we expect of them," Brown said, is what could determine how far this team goes.

Last season, the Warriors earned one of the postseason berths available in the Upper Cumberland Middle School Athletic Conference before their season ended in the opening round of the playoffs. Returning players now have firsthand experience with meaningful late-season football—something Brown hopes will help this year's group take another step forward.

Still, Brown measures success by more than wins and losses. His ultimate goal extends beyond the middle school field.

"If we can get 20-plus players to commit to playing high school football as freshmen, we will call it a success," the White County coach said.

The Warriors will have an open week this Thursday before beginning the regular season Aug. 13 on the road at Prescott. Home games this season include Algood on Aug. 20, Avery Trace on Aug. 27 and Stone Memorial on Sept. 17, with all games scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

For Brown, the hope is that this experienced group not only competes for another postseason opportunity, but also helps strengthen the future of White County football by arriving at the high school level ready to contribute from day one.