Shane Shoemaker – Writer
The Marion County area will have 11 high school football All-State selections from the 2023 season. The South Pittsburg Pirates lead the state of Tennessee, regardless of classification, with nine selections, while the Marion Co. Warriors have two.
The nine Pirates are from what became aptly known as “Team 100” that went 15-0 for the 2023 season and won the TSSAA 1A BlueCross Bowl state title, their seventh in school history. Five were named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) 1A All-State team, with those selections being QB Kamden Wellington, RB/LB Jamarion Farrior, TE Martavious Collins, RB JaMychal Buckner, and DE J.R. Hardrick.
Those five, along with WR RaCash Kelly, ATH A.J. Wallace, DL Ranye Tipton, and LB Logan Harris, were all selected by the Tennessee Football Coaches Association (TnFCA) 1A All-State team.
Representing the 2A All-State for both the TSWA and TnFCA teams were Marion Co. juniors ATH Sam Pickett and LB Taylor Scharber, who helped the Warriors win their first region championship since 2016 and go 10-0 during the regular season for the first time since 1995, and after finishing just 5-5 the year prior.
Senior Pirates Wellington and Farrior were both semifinalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award. Wellington, a dual-threat quarterback, accounted for 1,872 yards passing and 813 rushing with 44 total touchdowns. Farrior had 141 tackles and 5.5 sacks. The senior was also monumental in the Pirates’ rushing the ball, specifically in the state title game where he scored the only two South Pittsburg touchdowns and was named Class 1A BlueCross Bowl MVP.
The Warriors’ Sam Pickett, even after missing four games, earned his selection through his four defensive interceptions, 1,000-plus all-purpose yards, and 12 total touchdowns. His teammate Scharber had 101 tackles, 16 for a loss, 12 sacks, eight hurries, and two interceptions.
~Photos courtesy of South Pittsburg Football and Marion County Football
The Marion Tribune – January 18, 2024
