District 6-A at a Glance• Team on the rise: With 17 juniors who have loads of game experience and a more favorable schedule, Marion County could be one of the most dangerous teams in the area.• Nightmare schedule: South Pittsburg plays just one nondistrict game against another 1A team. The other six nondistrict foes are in larger classifications and made the state playoffs last season, including 6A Franklin County. The Pirates play two district champions and four opponents that advanced at least to the second round. One of their road games is at 2010 2A state champ Signal Mountain.• Dream schedule: Of Marion County’s five road games, only two are against teams that had winning records last season. Three of the Warriors’ opponents won three or fewer games last year, and four of their first six games are at home.• Best game: When South Pittsburg travels to Marion County on Sept. 16, not only will county bragging rights be on the line, but the district title likely will go to the winner.• Biggest shoes to fill: South Pittsburg running back Raquis Hale set a school record for rushing yards with more than 2,400 and was the MVP of the state championship game. He carried the Pirates in several playoff games and will not be easily replaced.• Playoff bound: South Pittsburg, Marion County, Lookout Valley
If South Pittsburg is going to make a run at a fourth state championship game in five years, it must account for the loss of four offensive linemen and a backfield that rolled up more than 4,000 yards last season.
While the Pirates return six offensive starters, how quickly their new quarterback, running back and revamped line mature could determine the season.
Junior Jake Stone (5-foot-11, 175) comes off a knee injury from early last season in taking over at quarterback, while Demetric “Little Man” Johnson moves from receiver to running back. Johnson (6-1, 180), who compiled more than 1,500 all-purpose yards last season, has the talent to become the program’s next college prospect. He averaged nearly 20 yards per touch last season as a receiver, runner and kick returner.
Senior receiver and defensive back Antonio Chubb (5-11, 175) is another two-way star who had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2010 and is the fastest player on a team loaded with speed. Whether those playmakers and heralded sophomore Jiajuan Lankford (5-10, 175) continue the program’s 45-points-a-game average for the past four seasons will depend heavily on a heavy offensive line.