SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. – Because Raquis Hale has saddled the team on his back for much of the playoffs, it would be easy to forget South Pittsburg’s offense is not limited to its all-state running back. The dangers of such short-term memory loss could be costly.
Hale is averaging 283 rushing yards (15 per carry) in three playoff games and has scored 10 of the Pirates’ 18 offensive touchdowns in the playoffs. But a pair of underclassmen receivers are just as dangerous, and likely to break a big play anytime they touch the ball.
Junior Antonio Chubb (5-10, 160) and sophomore Demetric “Little Man” Johnson (6-0, 160) have well over 1,000 yards of offense each and their per-touch averages are even gaudier than Hale’s. With a team-leading 751 receiving yards, Chubb averages 22.8 yards per catch, while Johnson averages 25 yards combined on receptions, rushing attempts and punt and kickoff returns.
“They know that Raquis is the guy right now, but they’re a big reason we’re having so much success running it,” Pirates coach Vic Grider said. “And if Raquis is running it well, it opens up our passing game.
“We know those guys can make plays and they’ll get four or five chances a game to make a play. They’ll be an even bigger part of what we do next year, it just so happens we’ve got one of the best running backs we’ve ever had right now so it makes more sense to give him the ball.”
Four times in the playoffs either Chubb or Johnson have struck for scoring plays covering 50-plus yards. But because of Hale’s success on the ground, the Pirates have ran the ball 67 more times than they’ve thrown it in the playoffs, leaving their big-play threats at receiver to make the most of what opportunities they get.
“We’re both confident we can make big plays anytime we get the ball,” Chubb said. “We know we’re not going to see the ball as much right now, so our job is to block downfield and help in other ways.
“Anytime we get the ball, we know that might be the last time for that game, so we have to do all we can when we get our chance.”
Chubb has by far the most catches on the team. With him as the primary receiver, and because of Johnson’s ability as a kick returner, the sophomore has seen his touches drop dramatically since the playoffs began. With a combined four TDs on punt and kickoff returns and because he averages 36.5 yards anytime he returns a kick or punt, opponents have simply began punting out of bounds or kicking off in any direction other than Johnson’s.
When South Pittsburg takes the field against Jo Byrns on Friday for the Class 1A championship, the Pirates’ pass catchers will face a defense which allows an average of just 72 passing yards per game. The Red Devils are just as stingy against the run and have not given up more than 14 points in a game all season.
“We’ve got to put pressure on them with other people besides Raquis,” Grider said “Antonio and Little Man are the main guys who have to step up and make plays in this game. They have every time we’ve asked them to this season and I expect them to play a big role again Friday.”