Copper Basin 22, South Pittsburg 15Star: Aaron English scored three touchdowns for the Cougars.Up next: Copper Basin (7-4) goes to Monterey for a 1A quarterfinal; South Pittsburg is done at 6-6.
COPPERHILL, Tenn. – On a frigid night at Cougar Stadium, Copper Basin coupled a stifling defense with a methodical ground game to end South Pittsburg’s football season. The Cougars followed a first-round bye in the Class 1A state playoffs with a 22-15 victory that sends them to Monterey next Friday.
After taking the opening kickoff, the visiting Pirates took just three plays to find the end zone as Chase Blevins scored from 22 yards out. The extra point from Kitt Grider made it 7-0 just over a minute into the game.
A defensive struggle then ensued, no one scoring until 39 seconds to go before halftime. South Pittsburg had the ball looking to hold the lead going into the break, but the opportunistic defense of Copper Basin forced a second fumble. Aaron English scooped it up at the Pirates’ 37-yard line and raced untouched to the end zone. The extra point tied the score at 7.
The Cougars (7-4) opened the second half with a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took 6:34 off the clock. The drive ended with English running 14 yards for the touchdown.