Tennessee Class 1A final
SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (12-2) vs. WAYNE COUNTY WILDCATS (13-0)
Today, 1 (Eastern)
Coaches, records: South Pittsburg’s Vic Grider is 161-35, including three state championships and one runner-up in 15 seasons at his alma mater; Wayne County’s Rick Rice 143-97 in 14 years as head coach.
How they got here: Defending state champion South Pittsburg beat Grace Academy 56-13 in the first round, sixth-ranked Greenback 28-17 in the second round, fifth-ranked Coalfield 36-6 in the quarterfinals and ninth-ranked Gordonsville 32-14 in the semifinals. The last three wins have come on the road, the first time in program history the Pirates have won three straight road games in the playoffs. Second-ranked Wayne County had a first-round bye, then beat Clarksville Academy 42-20 in the second round, Huntingdon 27-13 in the quarterfinals and West Carroll 33-0 in the semifinals.