WHITWELL, Tenn. - Even shorthanded South Pittsburg is still long on playmakers.
Despite playing without three skill-position players - all two-way starters, including receiver Cade Kennemore, who ranks among the area's top scorers - the Class 1A fifth-ranked Pirates extended their streak over cross-county rival Whitwell to 26 consecutive wins with a 50-24 whipping Friday night at Vernon Holtcamp Field.
South Pittsburg got points from five players and had three ball carriers finish with more than 70 yards. The Pirates averaged more than 10 yards per play in a game that in all likelihood was for the Region 3-1A championship.
Although the Pirates (6-1, 3-0) have two region games remaining - against Lookout Valley and Grace Academy - those are teams they have never lost to and whom Whitwell (3-4, 2-1) already owns lopsided wins over.
"It's a big deal because obviously it puts us in the driver's seat for the region," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "But to be honest, we were pretty sloppy tonight. We weren't attacking the line, especially in the second half, and they did a nice job of keeping the ball out of our hands.
"We've got a lot of work to do, but the biggest thing for us is just getting healthy. You look on our sideline and we've got several kids who play a ton of snaps for us not even dressed. When we get everyone back, we can be a pretty good football team."
The Pirates wasted no time establishing themselves on offense, scoring three touchdowns in their first eight plays to take a 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Dylan McQueen turned the corner on the second play and raced 60 yards for a touchdown, and that was followed by a short scoring run from Sawyer Kelley and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hogan Holland to Jess Morrison.
Kelley also set up his team's second touchdown with a diving interception on a pass he deflected. He later returned his second interception of the night 36 yards for a score to begin the third quarter; he finished his night's work with 98 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.
"I'm pretty tired, to be honest," Kelley said afterward. "I had to just push that aside, because tiredness is mostly mental anyway and I knew my team needed me."
After Whitwell got on the board with a 42-yard field goal from Austin Nunley, South Pittsburg answered with short touchdown runs by Joseph Lilly and Kelley just before halftime.
By halftime the Pirates already had 282 total yards, but they managed just 75 the rest of the way as their offense took just 10 second-half snaps.
Whitwell never let up in the second half, scoring three times and gaining 216 yards on the ground in the final two quarters. Hudson Petty ran for 147 yards and Trace Condra added 105 for the Tigers.
Since falling in its season opener at Class 3A second-ranked Sequatchie County, South Pittsburg has reeled off six straight wins by an average score of 45-9.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.