For all the program’s successes, there is still one lingering accomplishment that has yet to be attained.
Despite an area-leading six state championships in football, South Pittsburg has never won back-to-back titles.
On the heels of last season’s unexpected Class 1A crown, the Pirates will have another shot at that elusive achievement, although there is very little experienced talent returning, and first they must contend with a much improved group of Region 3-1A opponents.
“We lost way too much to be thinking that far ahead,” said Pirates coach Wes Stone, who takes sole control of the program after working as co-head coach and offensive coordinator last year. “We lost six all-state players, and 1A teams don’t have guys who look like those dudes every year. We’ll have to replace them by committee.
“Our first goal every year is to win the region, but that’s going to be a lot tougher now with such a young team and because Whitwell and Sale Creek have made up ground on us and both have a lot more experience coming back than us.”