SOUTH PITTSBURG 53, GRUNDY COUNTY 14
Recap: The Pirates dominated the first half, scoring on a pass, a run, a punt return and an interception return to take command. Demetric “Little Man” Johnson’s 73-yard punt return and Antonio Chubb’s 93-yard TD reception highlighted the first half, and the Pirates defense allowed just 158 yards of total offense.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 64, MARION COUNTY 0
Recap: In claiming their fifth straight win over their county rivals, and largest margin of victory in the series since 1953, the Pirates showed little mercy. After scoring on their first five possessions, as well as a punt return, the Pirates scored three more times in the second half and went for two-point conversions after their final two touchdowns. The Pirates outgained the Warriors 529-104 in total yards, led by Travis Millard’s 182 passing yards and three touchdowns. Jakoby Reynolds had three tackles for loss and a sack.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 49, CASCADE 0
Recap: After struggling to get started, the Pirates struck for 42 points during a stretch from the midway point of the second quarter until late in the third. Antonio Chubb scored on a 40-yard interception return, a 66-yard run and a 31-yard pass from Travis Millard. Cascade was held to 125 yards of total offense.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 40, SOUTH PITTSBURG 36
Recap: There were six lead changes and the teams combined for 895 yards. After the Eagles took the lead with 7:59 remaining, they forced a turnover deep in their territory and ran out the clock for the win. Raquis Hale rushed for 157 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown, and Travis Millard threw for 164 yards and two TDs.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 40, CENTRAL 14
Recap: The Pirates defense allowed 87 total yards, including only 8 in the first half, and the Purple Pounders didn’t pick up a first down until less than 10 minutes remained in the third quarter. South Pittsburg also forced five turnovers, including Demetrick “Little Man” Johnson’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. Johnson also began the second half with an electrifying 95-yard kickoff return for a score. “From the opening snap we had 11 guys running to the football pretty well defensively,” Pirates coach Vic Grider said. “We knew they had a lot of quick athletes, but we set a pretty good tone from the first series on.”
SOUTH PITTSBURG 64, WHITWELL 7
Recap: It took just 30 seconds for the Pirates to score their first touchdown, and they were ahead 48-0 by halftime. South Pittsburg rolled up 593 total yards, including 448 on the ground, and held the Tigers to 176 total yards. Raquis Hale averaged 40 yards on just four carries, and freshman Jijuan Lankford ran for 146 yards and two TDs. Josh Parker set a school record with a 99-yard touchdown reception.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 41, BOYD-BUCHANAN 6
Recap: Despite having rushed for more than 100 yards in every game to that point, Raquis Hale had yet to have a breakout game. He did so against the Buccaneers, rushing for 251 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 18 yards per carry. He bolted 51 yards for a score on the game’s second play and added scoring runs of 69 and 70 yards to go along with a 12-yarder. The Pirates defense also held the Bucs powerful rushing attack to just 77 yards and Matthew Allen returned an interception 77 yards for a TD.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 61, LOOKOUT VALLEY 20
Recap: Travis Millard completed 10 of 11 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns as well as tossing a two-point conversion pass and kicking four extra points. South Pittsburg scored five times in the second quarter and had a 42-point halftime lead. Josh Parker returned a fumble 42 yards for a TD and Demetric Johnson had an 86-yard kickoff return and a 29-yard scoring reception as six Pirates scored.
POLK COUNTY 42, SOUTH PITTSBURG 7
Recap: In a game that exposed plenty of areas for improvement, Pirates coaches admitted they later used this game as a turning point. With a size advantage up front, Polk County basically pounded South Pittsburg on both sides of the ball, and Jared Allen was unstoppable. It was the worst loss in six years for the Pirates, who were outgained by 189 yards. Ahead 20-7 in the third quarter, the Wildcats returned an interception 68 yards for the score that put the game away. Raquis Hale did continue his streak of 100-yard rushing games and scored the Pirates’ TD.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 58, GRACE ACADEMY 7
Recap: Raquis Hale scored the game’s first four touchdowns and finished with 119 yards on just 12 carries, all in the first half. The Pirates outgained the Golden Eagles 410-178 in total yards and forced three turnovers.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 49, MOORE COUNTY 14
Recap: Facing an opponent whose game plan was to eat up the clock to keep the ball out of the Pirates’ hands, South Pittsburg made the most of its limited snaps, averaging 16 yards per play. Leading by just one point going into the second quarter, the Pirates scored twice in the first 33 seconds of that period and scored four times on plays covering more than 25 yards. Raquis Hale rushed for 235 yards on just 12 carries, scoring three times, and also had an interception.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 32, GORDONSVILLE 21
Recap: Raquis Hale got behind his senior-laden offensive line and carried the Pirates to victory. After South Pittsburg stopped Gordonsville at the 1 on fourth-and-goal, Hale broke free for a 94-yard touchdown run. The Tigers countered with a score to pull within five, but Hale carried eight times on a nine-play, 71-yard drive to set up a 1-yard TD dive by quarterback Travis Millard. The Pirates held a 20-0 halftime lead but needed all of Hale’s 320 yards and three TDs to advance.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 54, COALFIELD 6
Recap: The Pirates wasted no time in establishing dominance, scoring on all five first-half possessions as well as a 35-yard interception return by Michael Allen for a 41-0 halftime lead. South Pittsburg had 320 offensive yards in the first half and held the Yellow Jackets to 93 total yards. After rushing for more than 200 yards in the first half, Raquis Hale bolted 92 yards for a touchdown on his first carry of the third quarter and finished with 293 on 16 carries. The Pirates had five touchdowns covering more than 30 yards, including an 82-yard run by freshman speedster Jijuan Lankford.
SOUTH PITTSBURG 41, JO BYRNS 6
Recap: The program’s fifth state championship, and second in four years, was secured in grand style as the Pirates claimed their 11th “mercy rule” win of the season. Running behind the offensive line of Cody Branham, Jakoby Reynolds, Cody Wordlaw, Aubrey Earvin, Coltin Blevins and Josh Wilson, Pirates running back Raquis Hale rushed for 228 yards and five touchdowns. Hale also had an interception and was named the game’s offensive most valuable player. Antonio Chubb caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown and also had an interception. Blevins was named defensive MVP after recording nine tackles and helping the Pirates shut down an offense that had averaged 41 points per game.
Stephen has covered high school sports in the tri-state area since the early 1990s, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor for more than seven years. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state and regional awards for his writing on high school athletics. He has two children, Riley ...
Or login with:
New Account