SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
South Pittsburg is headed back to the BlueCross Bowl after a 35-7 win over Coalfield in the Class 1A semifinals, marking the Pirates’ fifth state title appearance in the last six seasons.
Coalfield (11-3), looking to strike early, nearly broke the game open on the very first play when Jaiden Bunch sprinted 71 yards downfield. But the Pirates (13-1) caught a break as the ball was punched out at the 1-yard line, rolling through the end zone for a touchback, having South Pittsburg take over at its own 20.
Ja’Mychal Buckner set the tone once again, just as he did a week ago. The senior capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Pirates up 7-0 in the first quarter. Buckner, who finished with 110 yards and three scores, powered a ground game that piled up 241 total yards.
Mr. Football finalist Dayon Cooper followed in the second quarter, finishing off a 10-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown. Cooper sparked the offense throughout the night, rushing for 95 yards — including a key 44-yard burst in the fourth quarter.
South Pittsburg opened the second half with a perfectly executed onside kick, swinging momentum even further. After recovering the kick, the Pirates marched 55 yards, ending with Buckner punching in his second touchdown from a yard out to make it 21-0 with 9:23 remaining in the third.
Coalfield’s defense, battling to stay in the game, struggled to slow the Pirates’ run-heavy attack. Buckner’s third touchdown came after Cooper’s long run, pushing the lead to 28-7 with just under nine minutes to play. The Yellow Jackets finished with 186 total yards compared to South Pittsburg’s 250.
The Yellow Jackets finally broke through with the first points South Pittsburg has allowed since the ninth game of the regular season — and the first of the entire postseason — when Bunch returned a punt 35 yards for a touchdown with 9:23 left. It snapped a defensive streak that had carried through three straight playoff shutouts and one in the regular season.
The Pirates wasted no time answering, however. On the next possession, Brandon Goldsmith stepped in front of a pass and raced 82 yards to the end zone, stretching the lead to 35-7 with 7:21 remaining.
With the win, the Pirates advance to face McKenzie (13-1) in a rematch of the 2023 Class 1A BlueCross Bowl. South Pittsburg won that meeting 14-7 for their seventh state championship. The programs also met in the 2021 championship game, where the Pirates prevailed 24-21. McKenzie earned its return trip this season by defeating Fayetteville 39-0 in the semifinals.
South Pittsburg now heads to Finley Stadium in Chattanooga on Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. with a chance to bring home title No. 8.
Photos by Amy Stafford