Jeremy Jackson diary

South Pittsburg football radio announcer

August 29th — Marion County

It’s here! Football season…the best of all seasons. I take a moment to make sure I take a deep breath and soak it all in so that I can tell myself in March, when football seems so far away, that I did in fact enjoy it as much as I should have. No better way to start the season than by playing your biggest rival. The atmosphere is electric. I think CoachT.com helps fuel rivalries. The crowd for this game is the biggest I have seen in many years. Probably since the early-to-mid 1990s. The Warriors say they are back…we will see. The Pirates are back too…to defend a crown. Buckle your straps and hold on tight. It’s going to be a wild ride tonight.

The Pirates are off to a quick start. Look strong offensively and defensively. Malcolm Jones has housed two touchdowns with unbelievable runs after a reception and punt. Welcome back to South Pittsburg Mr. Jones! Terrell Robinson smoothly glides for a 30-yard TD. I believe he shook everyone on defense and was barely running. If ever poetry was in motion I believe it was on that play. The defensive line is strong! TDs piling up. Mercy Rule! Victory is at hand. The bullies of the valley still wear Orange and Black. Next…

September 5 — Copper Basin

The oldest region rival comes to town. Hard fought games in the ’80s and ’90s. Not so much lately. Highly touted young guys expected to get some playing time tonight. The Pirates have no shortage of talent when it comes to kids who can carry the ball. Raquis Hale and Jonathan Sellers will be big time next year if they continue to work hard. Mercy Rule again! 17 (wins) in row.

September 12 — Lookout Valley

Wow, it is still hot! I am ready for some football weather. Lookout Valley is developing their program well, but we have too much for them tonight. CSS is broadcasting the game so there is no room in the press box. I am sitting in the middle of the LV home stands and calling the game on the radio. Interesting. Penalties have slowed us down. I hope this does not become a problem because it appears to be the only chink in the armor at this time. Torrey Chubb made an outstanding TD catch over a defender in the end zone. On a team that has no shortage of offensive weapons, Chubb has added another one. The game is now out of hand. I can see houses up on the brow of Lookout Mountain from the field and I wonder if those people could watch the game from their homes with a telescope? Mercy Rule.

September 19 — David Brainerd

I just heard that South Pittsburg’s Junior High is undefeated and has not been scored on all season. It is a great time to be a Pirates fan. I bet David Jones, Montrell Mitchell and Kartrez Bibbs are frustrated because they have not been able to get many carries due to the lopsided scores. Not liable to change tonight. Six touchdowns are scored on the first six offensive plays. Totals for the first half: 11 plays, seven touchdowns. I could not even do that on X-Box. Mercy Rule again! Maybe this rule needs to be renamed the “Pirate Rule”…I think I will start referring to it as such. It will not be so easy next week….

September 26 — Tyner

I am disappointed the fish sandwiches are not ready by the time I have to go to the press box. I settle for nachos. Pirates are visibly excited in pregame warm-ups. Finally some competition! Pirates out to a fast start but there is no quit in Tyner. David Jones is running hard, and Terrell Robinson is putting on a clinic passing the ball. Malcolm Jones is making big plays again. Torrey Chubb continues to assert himself as a go-to receiver. He has really stepped up this year…Tyner has come back and tied the game. This is like a heavyweight fight with each side landing big-time punches…The winning streak is in jeopardy! The Pirates land a haymaker with a TD pass to Chubb with less than a minute to go! Terrell preserves the win with an interception at the goal line with 17 seconds left on the clock. These two programs have played in two unbelievably exciting games the past two seasons. Come to think of it, this one was not as exciting as last year. This game was decided much sooner. This year there were 17 seconds left, last year there were only six.

October 3 — Whitwell

A rivalry that was once tough is no longer. Nine Pirates score touchdowns. Pirate Rule invoked.

October 10 — Boyd Buchanan

This is one of the better rivalries in the area and both teams are coming in ranked and undefeated. There is a great atmosphere here at Beene Stadium tonight. A lot of tailgating going on pregame. The Bucs have brought a crowd. Hopefully they will go back to Chattanooga carrying a loss. Pirates strike quick on the back of a long David Jones run. Maybe the Pirates can invoke the Pirate Rule like last year…uhhh, not so fast. Homecoming! That means a lot to some people, but all it means to me is that halftime is too long. Yeah, yeah let’s crown somebody and get back to the game. By the way, I thought Homecoming games were supposed to be easy. What a defensive struggle! This is one of the best football games I have ever seen. Expletive! The Bucs finally score with less than a minute to go. They line up to go for two. A packed house on its feet. They make it…but wait —12 men on the field. Pirates hold on 7-6. Should the Pirates be crowned Region 3-2A champs?

October 17 — Silverdale

The hamburgers smell good! I have my traditional Dr. Pepper and Atomic Fireball pregame before we go on the air. Speaking of tradition…this program is loaded with it. There have been a ton of victories and championships through the years, but SP has a lot of other traditions on Friday night as well. From the people taking the tickets, to the chain gang, to Harvey’s Pirate Drive-In, to Bob Sherrell doing the PA…it just does not get any better than high school football in South Pittsburg.

Another region opponent and the Pirate Rule is invoked once again. This may be the Pirates best all around performance of the season. I would stack the Pirate defensive line up against anybody. Keaton Jones, Trevor Barnes, and Cody Wordlaw have been beasts all year…I think to myself, hmmmm, these guys are good.

October 24 — Bye Week

The bye week comes at a good time, but I hate bye weeks. Bumps and bruises will heal and we will hopefully be healthy for the playoffs. I am going to have to go home and find something different to do on Friday night, but what? I get home and my son wants to play football in the house and act like the Pirates — complete with running through the run through sign — it is not a bye week after all. The Pirates won at my house, too.

October 31 — Grace Academy

Trick or Treat? Region championship game. Hopefully the Pirates will treat us to another Region 3-1A title. I am trying to help call a game on the radio that I cannot even see. I am stuck in the top of a baseball pressbox in the corner of the end zone. I love and appreciate the accommodations at Beene Stadium. Some of the finest in the state no doubt. Josh Blake is the real deal! I would hate to have run roughshod over the region this year and then lose the championship in the end. Speaking of running roughshod, David Jones has entered the game and rolled up 198 yards in the second half. The Region 3-1A championship is in hand. Treat indeed. Better next week, better next week…

November 7 — Clay County

Playoffs! Win or go home. The Pirates have not beaten Clay County in 23 years. Which was also the last time the two programs faced each other. The Pirates won that contest in the state semifinals en route to a state runner-up finish in 1985. Pirates come out sluggish, but impose their will in the second and third quarters. Pirate Rule invoked! 51 playoff victories in program history….26 wins in a row….Second Round here we come.