SHANE SHOEMAKER – Sports Writer
The South Pittsburg Pirates (9-0, 4-0) are now one win away from their first undefeated regular season since 2019 after beating the Sale Creek Panthers (6-3, 2-2) 44-0.
The Kamden Wellington and Jamarion Farrior connection continued the Pirates’ usual scoring barrage last Friday night in the first quarter, making it 8-0 early. Wellington then scored twice on his own in the second quarter, putting the Pirates up 23-0. Wellington finished with 97 rushing yards for those two scores, but also went 12-for-16 through the air for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Besides his 11-yard pass to Farrior in the first, he also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to AJ Wallace in the third quarter.
The rest of the third quarter, and the last of the Pirates’ scoring, came on a 7-yard run from JaMychal Buckner and an 8-yard run from RaCash Kelly, accounting for all the 44 points scored in the game.
Friday night’s shutout over the Panthers gives the Pirates their fifth of the season against their opponents, and their sixth game where they’ve scored over 40 points. That now gives them a +378-run differential. Their one final test remaining to secure region dominance is this Thursday night against the Whitwell Tigers (7-2, 4-0). The Pirates will host the Tigers at Beene Stadium for the final regular season game. With a win or a loss against the Tigers, the Pirates are guaranteed a home playoff game.
~photos courtesy of Tracy Cagle & Cindy Desrosier
