Shane Shoemaker – Sports Writer
Not a single Friday night light illuminated the Sequatchie Valley last Friday. Two-thirds of the Marion County teams had a bye week, while the rest of the town were enjoying their fall break.
However, the South Pittsburg Pirates were in action, but not at Beene Stadium. The Class 1A’s top-ranked Pirates (8-0, 3-0) embarked on their fifth and final road trip of the regular season, this time to face the Chattanooga Prep Sentinels (2-6, 1-2).
It turned out to be another blistering, lopsided victory for the Pirates. They scored all 41 of their points in the first two quarters, while the Sentinels managed 14, with both scores coming in the second half – one in the third quarter and the other in the fourth.
The Pirates wasted no time getting on the board, scoring their first touchdown on a 90-yard kickoff return by Logan Hargis to kickstart the game. Nearly seven minutes later, quarterback Kamden Wellington found the endzone on a 10-yard run, followed by a Jamarion Farrior two-point conversion, making it 14-0.
Less than a minute later, the Pirates scored their third touchdown of the night. Wellington connected with tight end Martavious Collins on a 9-yard touchdown pass reception, giving the Pirates a 21-point lead in the first quarter.
Wellington completed 12-of-18 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, with an additional 51 yards and a rushing touchdown.
AJ Wallace, the Pirates’ primary target against the Sentinels, had six receptions for 107 yards but no touchdowns.
The remaining touchdowns were scored by Farrior, who only needed 40 all-purpose yards (16 rushing, 24 receiving) to secure three touchdowns. His final score came on his only reception of the game, just 36 seconds before the first half ended.
Friday night’s game against the Sentinels marked only the second time this season that the Pirates allowed an opponent to score 14 points. The other six games were decided by seven points or less, including four shutouts.
From now on, it’s all region play, and they’ll be back at Beene Stadium to finish the regular season.
The Sale Creek Panthers (6-2, 2-1) will be the first to walk the plank.
