BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR)

WHITWELL, Tenn. – South Pittsburg and November, these 2 words go together like Halloween and horror movies. The 2024 version of the Pirates is proving that they are still scary when it comes to being in the state championship picture. After losing almost all of their starters from last season’s title team and dropping 2 games in their first 9 contests this season, the orange and black still had an opportunity to win another region championship. They did just that with a dominating 49-7 victory over Whitwell on Friday night to win the Region 3-1A title.

After forcing Whitwell to go 3 and out on the Tigers’ first possession, the Pirates went to work in this battle of unbeaten region foes. After Dayon Cooper’s 50 yard score was wiped off the scoreboard due to a penalty, South Pittsburg was able to put together a nice drive to get the first points of the game on a 3 yard JaMychal Buckner run to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead with 2:15 left in the opening quarter. After another Whitwell punt, Cooper and South Pittsburg would add another touchdown to the lead when he scored on a 1 yard rush to extend the Pirates’ lead to 14-0 with 6:40 left in the first half. Ky Powell’s 48 yard run down to the Whitwell 21 yard line was the biggest gainer on the 82 yard drive. Powell and Cooper would be the wind in the sails of the Pirate ship on back-to-back possessions. Powell would account for 46 yards to get down to the Tigers’ 25 yard line and Cooper would end the drive on a 22 yard run to give South Pittsburg a 21-0 advantage with 3:06 left in the second quarter. Powell would haul in an interception and return it inside the red zone, giving the Pirates the ball at the 16 yard line with less than 3 minutes to pad their lead. The Pirates would do that when Buckner rushed in from 12 yards out for his second touchdown of the first half, giving South Pittsburg a 28-0 lead.

The Pirates would continue their first half domination into the third quarter. After converting two 4th downs and getting near the Whitwell 20 yard line, Cooper would add another touchdown to the box score, his third of the game, on a 22 yard run to give South Pittsburg a 35-0 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter. Buckner would get his third touchdown of the game on the final play of the quarter when he raced in from 49 yards out to push the Pirates lead to 42-0.

Whitwell’s only score of the game came when Bennett McDougal connected with Ryan Scott on a 32 yard pass to make it 49-7 with 7:41 left in the game. South Pittsburg’s offense would score on their 7th consecutive possession on the following drive when Buckner would break tackle after tackle on his way into the endzone from 63 yards out, giving the Pirates their final points of the night and a 49-7 advantage. Buckner, Cooper, and Powell would each go over 100 yards rushing individually while holding Whitwell to less than 50 yards rushing as a team in an effort that was worthy of region hardware.

JaMychal Buckner celebrates after South Pittsburg’s region clinching victory

South Pittsburg improves to 8-2 overall and ended region play with a perfect 5-0 record. The Pirates will host Red Boiling Springs (3-7) in the first round of the TSSAA 1A playoffs. Whitwell falls to 7-3 overall and ends their region schedule with a 4-1 mark. The Tigers will also host a first round playoff game when they welcome Jo Byrns (3-7) to town.

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