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Scores and Photos of Friday Night High School Football - Aug. 21
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Moments after the final snap, Houston Mainord was still trying to catch his breath. The combination of excitement and sheer exhaustion from helping lead Sequatchie County to a hard-fought 12-7 come-from-behind victory over South Pittsburg had left the senior quarterback gasping.
"That was pretty rough," Mainord said between deep breaths. "That was an exciting way to win and very big for us. It's what we've been working hard for. I'll be pretty sore when I wake up tomorrow, but it's worth it."
Mainord led all rushers with 16 carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the fourth quarter, and threw for 29 yards in the season opener for both teams.
There was no score until late in the third quarter when South Pittsburg scored on a 2-yard keeper by Hogan Holland. That came with just 49 seconds to go in the third quarter and capped an 11-play, 62-yard drive after the Pirates gained just 80 total yards in the first half.
The Indians countered with an eight-play, 58-yard drive of their own, Mainord scoring on a 6-yard run.
"That was huge, to come back and answer them after they scored," said first-year Indians coach Adam Caine. "We had been stagnant offensively lately in scrimmages, so that was really good to see."
An interception gave Sequatchie County the ball back near midfield, but the South Pittsburg defense forced the second turnover on downs of the game - the first coming in the first half at the Pirates' 9. Four plays later, however, the Indians blocked a punt and needed just three plays to cover the 20 yards to the end zone, Mainord scoring from 9 yards out.
The Indians ran for 201 yards, 107 of which came in the second half, and held the Pirates to 103 rushing and 142 total yards. South Pittsburg also lost two of its four fumbles and had a drive stopped on downs at the Indians' 20 in the first half.
"We're pretty good up front and we've got a couple of linebackers that do a good job of knocking people back and setting the tone," Caine said. "I got teared up coming out on the field because my dad passed away two years ago and he never got to see me coach in a game. I was thinking about him.
"I'm humbled to come into a place like this and get my first win."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.