SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - The state's top-ranked Class 1A football team continued its dominance of district rival Lookout Valley as South Pittsburg cruised to a 52-7 District 6-A victory Friday night.
The Pirates are 31-0 all-time against the Yellow Jackets.
After Matt Allen took the opening kickoff to the Lookout Valley 23-yard line, Jajuan Lankford scored from 3 yards out for a 6-0 lead less than a minute into the game.
Corbin Hale recovered a Yellow Jackets fumble on the ensuing series, setting the Pirates offense up at the Lookout Valley 27. Four plays plays later, Demetric "Little Man" Johnson scored from 15 yards and the barrage was on.
South Pittsburg found the end zone four more times in the first half while rolling up 295 yards.
The Pirates defense held up its end of the bargain. The Jackets came into the game averaging 42 points per game in the early season, but linebackers Coltin Blevins and Karrell Hutchins led the Pirates in holding the Jackets to one score.
"I thought we executed extremely well right out of the gate tonight," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "We wanted to come out and take command of the game early, and I felt like we did that. We have several players stepping up and making plays for us, and that makes us a much more dangerous football team."
In just his second start at quarterback, junior Jake Stone directed the offense to 500 total yards, completing 11 of 22 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown to Antonio Chubb.
Meanwhile, the 1-2 running punch of Johnson and Lankford continued to roll up the yards. Lankford, a sophomore, went over the century mark for the second straight game, running for 180 yards on just eight carries with three touchdowns. Johnson, having little trouble making the switch from wide receiver, totaled 64 yards on nine carries with three TDs of his own.
For Lookout Valley, Jamal Jones turned in a solid performance with 67 yards on 15 carries and a 45-yard scoring reception.
Next week the Pirates host Class 3A Sequatchie County while Lookout Valley hosts Grace Academy.