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.”