Week #4 of high school football in the Sequatchie Valley got underway a bit earlier this week out of precaution from potential foul weather in what turned out to be a huge and historic win for the team and the largest point spread of any local team for the week.
We’re talking, of course, about the Whitwell Tigers who were on the road Thursday night against the Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets — a day early this week out of precaution for potential rain and severe weather. Regardless of the forecast, Whitwell pulled-off a huge win over in the valley as the Tigers defeated the ‘Jackets 70-0. Whitwell is now 4-0Â on the season after Thursday night’s win.
According to Tigers Football historian, Steve Daffron, and his ‘WHS “Tiger Football” History’ page on Facebook, Thursday’s win marked the team’s second most points scored in in a single game, unseating the 2017 Tigers team who defeated Sale Creek 69-0 at home. It also marks the team’s second largest margin of victory with the number one spot belonging to the 1935 Tigers team who defeated Lynchburg 74-0. This win also unseats the 2014 team for the #1 spot for most points scored at an away game, the previous record was a 64-18 finish at Richland by the 2014 Tigers. Ironically, Lookout Valley made this particular part of the list two other times — placing now at #3 from the 2014 Tigers team’s 61-14 win at the valley and #4 with the 2016 team’s 58-14 victory against the ‘Jackets.
After spending the past four weeks on the road, with great wins against Huntland, Greenback, Jo Byrns, and now Lookout Valley, the 4-0 Tigers look forward to their home opener at Earl Condra Stadium and Holtcamp Field in Whitwell next week as theuy host the 0-4 Sale Creek Panthers who are coming off a 49-0 loss to Chattanooga Prep on Friday. Game time is 7:00 PM in Whitwell and if you can’t make it to the game you can listen online with WEPG at https://theriver1049.com — just click the listen live button and look for the Tigers Radio player to hear all of the action with your Tigers Radio announcer, Doug Ramsey.
Moving on to Friday night action, the South Pittsburg Pirates were at home in Beene Stadium hosting the Sequatchie County Indians and debuting a very impressive new addition to the already exciting atmosphere that is Friday nights in ‘The Pitt’. Thanks to generous donations and the help of the SPHS Letterman’s Club, Beene Stadiumand Vic Grider Field now sports a very impressive new scoreboard and “Jumbotron”-type screen, which allows the team opportunities for local business ads, commercials, and video replays and more from the game.
Both South Pittsburg and Sequatchie started their season with losses, however both teams had fired back in weeks two and three with wins. With Sequatchie narrowly-defeating Watertown on the road 33-28 in week 3 and South Pittsburg with an easy win over Copper Basin 48-0, this was definitely going to be game where both teams were fairly or evenly-matched and would prove to be a close scoring game.
The action starts with South Pitt kicking off to Sequatchie and #3, Jamychal Buckner, on the return for a touchdown early in the first quarter with 8 minutes to go. #13, Alex Phillips, extra point attempt was good increasing the Pirates lead to 7-0. Sequatchie’s Hunter Minton (#1) answers with a rushing TD with about 5 minutes to go in the quarter and #60 Will Machado goes in with the kick to tie things up 7-7. Sequatchie quickly moves to take the lead to 14-7 with about 1 minute to go in the first quarter after another rushing TD and successful extra point attempt from Machado. The Pirates #4, Ky Powell, quickly responds to the Indians lead with a rushing TD with less than a minute in the quarter followed by a Phillips kick to tie things at 14 going into the second quarter of action.
The second quarter saw no changes on the scoreboard as halftime came and went and both teams are tied at 14 entering the second half action. We wouldn’t see the score change until Sequatchie’s #22, Kason Hicks, comes in late in the fourth with a 1-yd rushing TD and successful extra point from Machado, increasing the Indians’ lead to 20-14. South Pittsburg’s #3, Jamychal Buckner, manages a 6-yd rushing TD with under a minute left in the game to pull the Pirates closer with a score of 21-20. With precious seconds on the clock the Pirates face trying to tie it up again and send it to overtime or closing things out with a 2-point conversion — which is what was attempted and failed, costing the Pirates a 21-20 loss to Sequatchie. The Pirates are now 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the district and look to face Lookout Valley on the road next week. WEPG will have the action on-air with pre-game at 6:30 PM and kick-off at 7:00 PM with Sean Dunwoody and Jeremy Jackson live in Lookout Valley on 104.9 FM, 910 AM, and on the web at https://theriver1049.com.
Sequatchie County improves their record to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the district as they return home next week to face the undefeated Marion County Warriors on Friday night. Sequatchie fans can hear the action on WSDQ Country Roads 93.3 FM with the Indians Broadcast Team with kickoff at 7:00 PM CDT.
And yes, Marion County remains undefeated on the season following Friday night’s 37-20 conference win on the road against the Fayetteville Tigers. It was a rather soggy night for action in Fayetteville as the teams took to the field. Fayetteville punted to Marion to start the game with Marion #4, Sam Pickett, going in for a rushing TD and getting the first points on the board with around 3 minutes left in the first quarter. The extra point was good, making it 7-0 Marion. The Warriors recover a fumble by Fayetteville with about a minute to go in the quarter and punt the ball to Fayetteville. Now in the second quarter, Sam Pickett takes it into the end zone again for the Warriors followed by the extra point increasing their lead to 14-0. This is followed by a Safety which brings the score to 16-0 with about two minutes to go until the half. Before the half closes, Fayetteville was able to intercept a Marion County pass, but time expires before they can do anything.
Coming back in the third quarter, Fayetteville kicks things off to Marion then quickly recovers a fumble by the Warriors. With 8 mins to go, Fayetteville has turned possession over on downs and Marion has ball, as #8, Mason Mays, goes in for a TD. After the successful extra point kick, this brings their lead to 23-0 over the Tigers. Fayetteville responds with a touchdown with about 4 minutes to go in the third, but misses the extra point, the score now 23-6. This marks the first time the Warriors have been scored on at all this season by another team, which is likely why Marion is quick to respond with another Sam Pickett TD and extra point to increase the Warriors lead to 30-6 as the third quarter comes to a close.
The fourth quarter starts with another Sam Pickett TD and the extra point as the Warriors bump things to 37-6 with around 10 minutes left in the game. With around 6 minutes on the clock, Fayetteville completes a pass for another TD plus the extra point to draw closer with a score of 37-13. As the clock winds down, Fayetteville hits their stride with yet another TD and point to bring things to 37-20, which is how it would end as the Marion County Warriors extend their wins to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the district as they travel to Sequatchie on Friday night for week #5 action. Marion fans unable to make the trip can listen to all of the action with WEPG online at https://theriver1049.com — on the listen live page and the Warriors Radio player. Longtime “Voice of the Warriors,” Dave Daffron, along with Brian Gossett will bring you all of the action from on the road at Sequatchie County.
Other scores from around our area include a 14-0 win for Grundy County over the Tennessee Heat–a home school football league or team. A loss for Bledsoe against York Institute 20-7. In Alabama, the North Sand Mountain Bison win over Cedar Bluff 21-20. The North Jackson Chiefs score a big win over St. John Paul 40-7. And in North Georgia, the Dade County Wolverines lose to Christian Heritage 38-26.
