SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - It wasn't the quantity but the quality of plays for South Pittsburg on Friday night.
As the Pirates stepped back into 1A competition, the big plays returned. They needed two plays or less to score all seven touchdowns, including on six of their eight first-half possessions, in a 49-13 win over Grace Academy.
That gave South Pittsburg the Region 3-1A championship and the right to host in the playoffs until the semifinals, as long as it keeps winning.
The Pirates' other four possessions ended with lost fumbles, including three deep in Golden Eagles territory, leaving coach Vic Grider fuming over the lack of focus by his team one week before the playoffs begin.
"I hope we got that out of our system tonight, because that's the kind of thing that can get us beat in a hurry," Grider said. "When we don't lay the ball on the ground or hurt ourselves with penalties, we can be tough to handle.
"We thought we'd have opportunities to make some big plays on them, and that got us going."
The Pirates will host Mount Pleasant (6-4) in next week's first round.
South Pittsburg (7-3, 5-0) ran up 422 total yards in the first half, erupting for 35 points in the second quarter, and began the second half with the mercy rule in effect. Despite running 28 fewer plays than Grace, the Pirates outgained the visitors 520-171 in total yards, including 423 on the ground, led by senior Chase Blevins' 230 yards and junior Joseph Lilly's 165.
Both had gained more than 150 yards by halftime, and Blevins scored touchdowns on half of his eight carries, coming on runs of 91, 33, 46 and 45 yards. Lilly scored on runs of 77 and 33 yards.
"We wanted to come out and take away their hope and put them away early," Blevins said. "We wanted to make a statement and let the teams coming down here for the playoffs know what's coming."
South Pittsburg also got a 27-yard TD pass from Hogan Holland to Cade Kennemore. Kennemore caught a 2-point-conversion pass one-handed, had another circus catch on a pass that was deflected by two Golden Eagles and had an interception on defense.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.