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Tennessee: Pirates set up a date at Trousdale

By: Stephen Hargis
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SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — The road to Murfreesboro, and a potential second straight Class 1A state championship, has become very similar to last season for South Pittsburg.

Once again top-ranked South Pittsburg will face three consecutive opponents from the mid-state’s Region 4, considered the toughest 1A league in the state. After beating Clay County last week, the Pirates defeated sixth-ranked Friendship Christian 28-12 Friday in a steady rain and will travel to second-ranked Trousdale County in the quarterfinals.

It will be the first time the Pirates have traveled in the playoffs since 2003.

“I was proud of how we responded against a real good football team,” Pirates coach Vic Grider said after his team’s 27th straight win, which was interrupted by a 38-minute lightning delay. “We didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities. They did a good job of controlling the ball for the most part, but we made the most when we did have the ball.”

For the second straight week the Pirates were limited offensively in the first half before second-half big plays put the game away. Mr. Football finalist David Jones scored the first and last touchdowns of the night for South Pittsburg, both coming on punishing runs in which he broke two tackles near the line of scrimmage before bolting for the end zone. The first score covered 21 yards and the second went 68, and he finished with 172 yards on 22 carries.

South Pittsburg (12-0) opened the game by driving to the Commanders’ 18 but was held on downs. Friendship Christian ran 25 of the next 30 offensive plays but was held on downs at the Pirates’ 32 and 25. Although the Pirates were held scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this season, they built off the momentum of the second defensive stand with a seven-play scoring drive.

“I don’t know how I came out on my feet on that first touchdown run,” Jones said. “I just kept driving my legs and didn’t want to go down. I knew how important it was for us to get ahead, so I was just doing everything I could.

“I think that woke us up and got us going.”

Friendship, which came into the game averaging 35 points, fumbled on its next play and Malcolm Jones recovered for the Pirates. Malcolm then outran two Commanders to the pylon for a 14-yard TD catch with less than a minute remaining before halftime.

Friendship opened the second half with a TD to cut the deficit to 14-6, but South Pittsburg returned the ensuing kickoff to the Commanders’ 43. On the next snap, Kartrez Bibbs weaved his way for the TD that put the visitors on their heels, and David Jones salted the game away midway through the fourth quarter.

“We’re at the point in the season where we need David to take over games,” Grider said. “He showed what kind of runner he is tonight.

“Defensively, we couldn’t ask for more. We knew Friendship would make a few plays because they’re got some talented players, but we held them when we needed to.”

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