BENTON, Tenn. – Following a similar blueprint as it used in last year’s meeting, Polk County brutalized South Pittsburg up front on both sides of the ball and achieved something that had never happened in history. Class 3A’s fifth-ranked Wildcats administered a mercy-rule beatdown of 1A’s top-ranked Pirates, 42-7.
It was the worst loss for South Pittsburg since a midseason loss to Boyd-Buchanan in 2004 and the first time in the four-year history of the state’s 35-point running-clock rule that the Pirates were on the losing end of it.
Polk County (8-1), which has won eight straight games, outgained the Pirates (7-2) 366-177 in total yards, including a bruising 277 on 51 rushing attempts. The Wildcats have won four straight in the series and are one of just four teams who have played South Pittsburg at least four times and lead the series (6-2).
On senior night, senior quarterback Jared Allen stood out, rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 89 yards and two TDs. The University of Tennessee baseball signee returned an interception 68 yards for another score.
“I just wanted to win this game so bad for all us seniors,” said Allen, whose 14-player class’s 34 wins is the most in school history. “This is special. I never saw this coming because not many people can say they beat South Pittsburg like this, and it should give us a whole lot of confidence for the playoffs.”
Polk County, which converted three fourth downs into firsts in the first half, began three of its six first-half possessions in South Pittsburg territory, including two ending in touchdowns after Pirates turnovers. After the Wildcats covered 30 yards in three plays, capped by Allen’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Alex Akins, the Pirates answered with a 60-yard kickoff return, leading to a 3-yard scoring run by Raquis Hale.
But from the midway point of the second quarter, Polk County dominated up front – running 25 plays to South Pittsburg’s 10, pulling ahead with a nine-play scoring drive capped by Chase Mull’s 2-yard run and a 10-play drive ending in a 10-yard TD pass from Allen to Gatlin Lanning just before halftime.
By halftime, the Wildcats had outgained the Pirates 231-87 in total yards. The Wildcats, who had shut out their last three opponents, held a Pirates offense that had averaged 51 points to the fewest it has scored in more than two seasons.
“I’m actually speechless right now,” Wildcats coach Derrick Davis said. “We were really ready to play tonight. I was scared to death of their speed, and especially the Hale kid. But we did a great job up front on both sides, and Jared Allen proved why he’s going to be a Division I athlete.”