SHANE SHOEMAKER – Writer
South Pittsburg kept things rolling last Friday night in the second round of the TSSAA 1A playoffs, beating Clay County, 58-0.
The Pirates have now shut out both of their playoff opponents and have a total of seven on the season. They’ve scored 121 points in the first two rounds. The Pirates accounted for 433 yards of total offense to the Bulldogs’ 59.
JaMychal Buckner started with a large chunk of that on a 49-yard touchdown run less than 15 seconds into the start of the game. Buckner would finish with six carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. Kamden Wellington (54), Jamarion Farrior (75), Zech Green (33), RaCash Kelly (5), Ky’Saun Powell (12), and Brandon Goldsmith (6) would add to the rest of the Pirates’ 248 yards rushing.
Outside of Wellington taking the ball into his own hands once for a 4-yard touchdown run, he and RaCash Kelly connected four times. Three of those receptions were for second-quarter scores, combining for 154 yards, which mostly came off two of 70-plus yards. Wellington would only complete 5-of-7 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns and one interception and would add 54 rushing yards and another score.
The Pirates’ defense also got in on the scoring when sophomore Kadyn Pace intercepted a Bulldogs pass for a 28-yard touchdown return, one of his two picks on the night. This would all sum up to give the Pirates a staggering 42-0 lead at the break. Three more Pirates would earn touchdown scores in the second half. Jamarion Farrior scored on a 41-yard run, while Taedyn Bibbs added 2 points off a South Pittsburg safety, and Zech Green scored on a short run.
South Pittsburg will now move onto a familiar opponent in Gordonsville (8-4) in the quarterfinals. The Tigers eliminated the Pirates early in the second round of last year’s playoffs.
~photos courtesy of Tracy Cagle & Cindy Desrosier
