SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
South Pittsburg is headed to the quarterfinals of the TSSAA Class 1-A playoffs after dismantling Oliver Springs 49-0, marking their third consecutive shutout and second of the postseason.
The Bobcats (7-5) didn’t have much of a chance containing the Pirates (11-1), even though they held them to just seven first-quarter points. The lone score came on a 61-yard run from Dayon Cooper. From there, he and fellow Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist JaMychal Buckner took over, combining for three of South Pittsburg’s four touchdowns in the second quarter.
Buckner scored three times on the evening and led the Pirates in rushing with 105 yards. His night began with a 34-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, followed by an 11-yarder later in the period, before breaking loose for a 54-yard score in the third. In between, quarterback Caden Jones found Cooper for a 53-yard touchdown to make it 21-0. Altogether, the two playmakers accounted for 253 of South Pittsburg’s 404 total yards.
Jones connected on 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 153 yards and two touchdowns. His second scoring throw went to Brandon Goldsmith on a short pass that capped South Pittsburg’s 28-point second quarter. Goldsmith finished with three catches for 15 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper led all receivers with three receptions for 80 yards and a score.
Zech Green added the final touchdown for the Pirates, punching in the lone score of the fourth quarter. He finished with 50 rushing yards on five carries.
Oliver Springs managed just 104 total yards of offense, with nearly all of it coming through the air. The Bobcats completed only 44 percent of their passes and threw two interceptions.
Next up for the Pirates on their path back to the state championship is a tough Clay County (11-1) team this Friday.
Photos by Tracy Cagle