A disappointing ending to the 2020 football season was followed by a whirlwind of changes for South Pittsburg, one of Tennessee’s most consistent small schools.
After losing the Class 1A state championship game to Fayetteville last December, the Pirates went through TSSAA sanctions that limited their spring practices and summer 7-on-7 competition, along with a head coaching change and the adjustment to new offensive and defensive schemes that came with it plus the graduation of 14 starters, including last year’s 1A Mr. Football award winner.
Add in that Fayetteville returns the majority of its starters and that both two-time reigning 2A champion Peabody and perennial playoff power McKenzie dropped down to 1A, and it becomes clear that South Pittsburg’s road to a potential sixth state title is littered with obstacles.
Yet despite all that, the Pirates’ expectations remain much higher than another Region 3-1A title.
“My expectation level has never changed,” said new head coach Chris Jones, who returned to his alma mater this spring after more than two decades spent coaching at the professional level, including nearly 200 wins as a head coach in the Canadian Football League and two years as a defensive assistant with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
“From the time I was a player to now, at every level, I expect to win every game. I’ll never accept being second,” Jones added. “Every decision we’ve made since I took over is about winning a state championship. If it doesn’t benefit our goal of doing that, we won’t do it.”
Although they are short on experienced starters, the Pirates won’t lack for talent, particularly at the skill positions.
That begins with senior running back De’Andre Kelly, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder who ran for more than 900 yards and averaged 10 per carry in 2020 despite missing nearly half the regular season with an ankle injury, and it includes receiver Reginald Hunter (6-2, 220) and twin brother Richard (6-0, 210), who gives the offense a dual threat as he takes over at quarterback. Chris Jackson and Jayden Mount are versatile enough to play in the backfield as well as at receiver, and they also will be playmakers in the secondary.
Jones’ philosophy is to rotate more players in than the program typically had previously played, a tactic intended to wear down opponents over the course of a game. He also switched to an up-tempo, no-huddle spread offense that will create space for those skill position players to take advantage of their athleticism.
The biggest preseason question revolves around the offensive line, where there’s a lack of overall size and depth. However, all-state defensive lineman Gio Davis (6-4, 285) – a three-star prospect with offers from Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona State and Ole Miss among others – will likely spend more time on that side of the ball to solidify the front.
The schedule is brutal with reigning Class 6A state champion and nationally ranked Murfreesboro Oakland coming to town and road trips to Division II-AA contender Chattanooga Christian, Murphy – a 10-time 1A state champion in North Carolina, including last year – and perennial Alabama 4A playoff program North Jackson.
“It’s going to look nasty at times early in the season, but once we hit our stride, we should be tough to deal with,” Jones said.
There continues to be a sizable dropoff from the Pirates to the rest of the region – they have won 25 of their past 26 league matchups by an average of 45 points, another reason Jones toughened up the nonregion schedule – but Sale Creek could challenge for the second spot and the home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs that comes with it.
In the program’s eighth year of existence, the Panthers finally open their home stadium this season (Sept. 3 against Jackson County). They also bring back six starters on each side of the ball from a team that won four straight games at one point last season to earn its second straight playoff berth.
Cam Penny, who took over as the starting quarterback midway through last season and sparked the run to the playoffs, is one of only four seniors expected to receive much playing time. Also, running back Drew Hillian (5-10, 200) brings good size to the position and will likely get plenty of carries behind an offensive line headed by John Carlock (6-0, 275).
“In the past we’ve had some good individual talent, but we didn’t always play well as a team,” Panthers coach Ron Cox said. “I think we’ve finally learned how to win together, especially those close games.”
After racing out to a 7-1 start last season, Copper Basin lost three of its last four, including in the first round of the playoffs. Only four starters are back on each side of the ball for the Cougars, and among their biggest holes to fill will be the one created by the graduation of all-state quarterback Bryson Grabowski. Joe Boggs takes over that position and has a bruising backfield mate in Sebastian Dalilies to help the transition to a more run-heavy style.
Lookout Valley is the most experienced team in the region with 15 starters back, but there are only 22 players on the roster. That lack of depth has been brutal recently for a program that is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
There has been a sharp decline in on-field success for Whitwell since winning the 2018 state title, with the Tigers just 4-18 overall since then. First-year head coach Rocky Stephenson, a former two sport all-state athlete, takes over at his alma mater and has brought on Bill Price – who guided Signal Mountain to a state title – as his offensive coordinator.
There are six starters back on each side of the ball, but the biggest reason for optimism is a talented freshman class that will likely have several players earn significant action this season.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.