SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — At a Class 1A football program noted for its wealth of talent, the backbone of South Pittsburg football has long been players who overcame a lack of size by playing with loads of intensity and an appreciation for tradition.

Leslie “Bubba” Ramsey is another in a long line of such players — in the mold of former Pirates linebackers such as Ronnie Griffith, Alan Malone and Marcus and Vincent Banks — all of whom were known as fierce hitters who helped claim a state championship.

“Bubba understands what Pirate football is all about,” South Pittsburg defensive coordinator Allen Pratt said. “He knows the role football plays in the community and how big a deal it is for this town. The bigger the game the better he plays, and I’ll tell you, he’s not scared of contact. He’ll hit you.”

When he was a toddler, Ramsey’s sister struggled trying to call him “brother” and it came out “Bubba.” The nickname stuck, and like any good Southern small-town team, South Pittsburg has had its Bubba ever since. He has played football since he was 8 years old, always with a chip on his shoulder as one of the smallest players on the field.

“I always felt like I had something to prove,” Ramsey said. “I’ve pretty much always been the smallest linebacker. But in the eighth grade, I learned I could hit pretty good. I remember my first big hit. We had intercepted a pass and I cracked back on a receiver and laid him out. I liked the feeling. I still love hearing the crowd go, “Ohhh!” when you get a big hit.

“I just try to give 100 percent every play, because I want to be remembered as someone who would come up and lay a lick and isn’t scared to hit you.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Ramsey is among the top three tacklers on a defense that allows just 71 rushing yards and six points per game. He has also made the most of limited number of rushing attempts, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. Ramsey and the defending state champion Pirates will be tested tonight by sixth-ranked Friendship Christian, which averages 35 points per game.

“Bubba is one of those kids we’ve made a living with through the years,” Pirates coach Vic Grider said. “Our program wouldn’t be what it is now without kids like him. He does his job, plays very hard and gets the most of his ability.

“When you go deep into the playoffs, great players cancel each other out, so it’s usually the other guys that make the difference. We’ve been fortunate to have tough hard-nosed kids like him who have made the difference for us this time of year.”

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