SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Round one goes to South Pittsburg. But just barely.
In what was a likely state quarterfinal preview, Class 1A's top-ranked Pirates held off third-ranked Whitwell 21-14, but only after a short pass to the end zone was batted down with 1.3 seconds remaining.
The Tigers drove 78 yards in 18 plays, reaching the Pirates' 3 before Jaylyn Hubbard and Sawyer Kelley defended a pass to the right corner of the end zone with the clock winding down, giving the hosts their third straight Region 3 championship.
"We were about two plays there at the end from really putting the pressure on them," said coach Randall Boldin, who had guided the Tigers (7-1, 2-1) to the best start in program history. "Hopefully we'll get another shot at them in the playoffs."
With one of the largest crowds to watch a game in Beene Stadium's 50-year history - fans filled both stands and were three rows deep circling the track - the lead changed hands three times before South Pittsburg (8-0, 3-0) appeared to begin to take control early in the third quarter. Sophomore Ronto Tipton broke free on a fourth-and-3 for a 37-yard touchdown run, giving the Pirates a 21-8 lead.
But Whitwell dominated the rest of the second half, outgaining the Pirates 185-52 in total yards, including a 73-yard scoring sprint by Trace Condra that brought the Tigers within 21-14.
After forcing a punt, Whitwell took over on its 19 and converted three third downs and a fourth down into firsts to reach South Pittsburg's 3 on a 6-yard run by Hudson Petty. But with no timeouts remaining and the clock under 10 seconds and running, Petty's pass was batted to the turf and the Pirates celebrated their 12th straight region win and 27th straight win in the series.
"The goal from the beginning was to get a win, however we could," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "We knew what was on the line as far as the region title, the playoffs and getting to play them here if there's a rematch. There were points in the game where they severely outplayed us. We've got a 21-8 lead with the ball twice and a chance to put them away, and we didn't do it.
"I thought we got really tired, and that's something we'll have to look at. We have a lot of guys go both ways. They lined up and caused us to run and chase them a lot, and that stuff wears on you. They gave themselves a shot to win the game, and I'm just glad we found a way at the end."
The Pirates began the game needing just six plays to cover 89 yards, with junior fullback Garrett Raulston breaking loose for a 46-yard TD run. Two series later the Tigers answered when Petty swept around right end, broke a tackle and turned the corner for a 39-yard scoring run. Petty then added the two-point conversion run and Whitwell had an 8-7 lead.
The Tigers defense made the Pirates earn every yard for the rest of the first half, not allowing a run of more than 6 yards. But the Pirates put together a 15-play, 61-yard drive - converting two fourth downs and two third downs, including a 1-yard keeper by Jaylyn Hubbard for the TD that put the hosts back in front at halftime.
Whitwell gained 159 of its 266 rushing yards on the final two drives, wearing down the Pirates defense with a healthy dose of Petty, who led all rushers with 125 yards on 21 carries, and Condra, who added 106 yards on 12 carries.
Raulston finished with 102 rushing yards for South Pittsburg and senior Sawyer Kelley added 81 on 15 carries, helping the Pirates run for 276 yards against a Tigers defense that still has allowed just 34 points through eight games and stuffed the Pirates on fourth-and-3 at the Whitwell 17 to set up the late rally.
"I thought our defense really stepped up and played a great game," Boldin said. "We had a couple of drives in the first half that we didn't finish, or we could have really made the second half a lot different."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.