SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. – Throttled. Facing a Clay County defense that had allowed just 67 points in its first 11 games this year – an average of six per game, including six shutouts – South Pittsburg’s offense never took its foot off the accelerator Friday night, rolling to a 57-13 win in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.
The top-ranked Pirates (11-0) scored on seven of their first eight possessions and led 50-6 at halftime.
“For about the past five games we’ve come out of the gate really fast,” said Pirates coach Vic Grider, whose team scored four touchdowns in the first quarter for the second straight week. “That says a lot about our older guys. They’re hungry and they know getting on the other team early sets the tone and discourages them.
“If we can keep that up, we’ll be a tough out for anybody.”
It was the Pirates’ 700th all-time win and the 10th time in an 11-season span they have advanced to at least the quarterfinals. Next week they will host Gordonsville (5-7), which won 17-7 against Whitwell (3-9) on Friday to end the Tigers’ bid to repeat as state champions.