SHANE SHOEMAKER
Sports
South Pittsburg won its third straight game Friday, beating Class 5A’s Franklin County 41-7 on the road.
The Pirates (3-1) piled up 424 yards of total offense against the Rebels (1-4) 158. JaMychal Buckner nearly ran for Franklin’s total alone, racking up 153 yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns.
Buckner broke the scoreless tie midway through the opening quarter with his first touchdown run. He followed it up in the second quarter by racing 91 yards to the end zone and later added the Pirates’ only points of the third quarter.
Quarterback Caden Jones sparked the passing attack, completing 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Jones connected with Brandon Goldsmith on a 14-yard strike to make it 14-0, then hit Dayon Cooper for a 41-yard score just before halftime.
Cooper led all receivers with four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, averaging 19.2 yards per reception. Martavious Smith added three receptions for 16 yards.
The Pirates built a 28-0 halftime lead before tacking on 13 points over the final two quarters. That matched the same total South Pittsburg’s defense has allowed across its last three games and just 23 points all season.
The No. 2 ranked 1A Pirates return to Beene Stadium on Friday for the second game of a four-game home stand, hosting Red Bank (1-3).
Photos by Adria Sherrill