SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
The South Pittsburg Pirates were simply too much to handle Friday night, pummeling Brainerd 63-0.
The Pirates (2-1) set the tone early, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter before piling on 28 more points in the second. By halftime, the game was well out of reach. Anthony Gibbs Jr. provided much of the spark, scoring three touchdowns in the first half.
Quarterback Caden Jones added to the offensive explosion, connecting with Brandon Goldsmith – who also made an interception on defense – and Dayon Cooper for a pair of passing scores before the break. South Pittsburg would add 14 points in the final two quarters.
For Brainerd (0-3), the loss extended a tough stretch. The Panthers have now dropped 12 straight games dating back to last season.
The win for Class 1A’s No. 2 ranked team comes on the heels of last week’s 40-6 victory over Sequatchie County, continuing a turnaround after a disappointing season-opening loss to Silverdale. In their last two outings, the Pirates have outscored their opponents 103-6, showing a renewed dominance on both sides of the ball.
South Pittsburg will look to keep building momentum when they host Franklin County (1-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Photos by Tracy Cagle