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South Pittsburg’s stifling defense key to chances of returning to title game

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / South Pittsburg linebacker J.J. Beene celebrates after blocking a Marion County punt and recovering the ball in the end zone to score a touchdown in the Pirates' 63-7 win at rival Marion County in September 2019. Beene is undersized but energetic, a quality that has inspired those around the senior and 2019 all-state selection to raise their level of play for a standout defense this season.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / South Pittsburg linebacker J.J. Beene celebrates after blocking a Marion County punt and recovering the ball in the end zone to score a touchdown in the Pirates' 63-7 win at rival Marion County in September 2019. Beene is undersized but energetic, a quality that has inspired those around the senior and 2019 all-state selection to raise their level of play for a standout defense this season. Staff photo by Robin Rudd / South Pittsburg linebacker J.J. Beene celebrates after blocking a Marion County punt and recovering the ball in the end zone to score a touchdown in the Pirates' 63-7 win at rival Marion County in September 2019. Beene is undersized but energetic, a quality that has inspired those around the senior and 2019 all-state selection to raise their level of play for a standout defense this season.

By Stephen Hargis 4 min read

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. – In a town noted as the Fireworks Capital of the South, there is a natural fascination with the glitz of things that cause folks to rise from their seats in excitement.

But while South Pittsburg’s offense has dazzled this football season – the Pirates have scored 27 touchdowns of 30-plus yards and have averaged a gaudy 50 points and more than 400 yards in 12 wins – the defense has created just as much buzz with its flair for being steadily stifling.

In their past five games, the Pirates have allowed an average of fewer than six points, given up just 2.1 yards per play and have shut out each opponent in the second half.

As the top-ranked Pirates (12-1) make their fourth Class 1A semifinal appearance in the past five seasons, their Cast Iron Curtain crew will be tested unlike any game since their lone loss Oct. 9 at Meigs County, which remains undefeated and is in the Class 2A semis this week. Second-ranked Coalfield (12-0), which visits South Pittsburg for Friday’s matchup, has scored five-plus touchdowns in seven of its wins and has averaged 9.5 yards per play this season.

Lake County (7-1) hosts Fayetteville (11-2) in the other semifinal, with the BlueCross Bowl for the 1A title set for Dec. 4 at Tennessee Tech. South Pittsburg most recently played for a state championship in 2013.