South Pittsburg advanced to the BlueCross Bowl for the fifth time in the past six seasons with a 35-7 win at Coalfield on Friday. They finished runner-up last season.
The second-ranked Pirates (13-1) will face top-ranked McKenzie (13-1) at 2 p.m. on Friday at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium, with the Rebels defeating fourth-ranked Fayetteville 39-0 in Friday’s other 1A semifinal.
South Pittsburg gained 252 of its 275 offensive yards on the ground, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and was led by senior running back Ja’Mychal Buckner’s 114 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Junior Dayon Cooper, a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist, added 103 yards and a touchdown on nine carries as the Pirates attempted a season-low six passes.
If you can’t attend, you can listen to all of the action live on 104.9 FM The River WEPG, 910 AM, online at www.theriver1049.com, and on SVEConnect Channel 4. Sean Dunwoody and Jeremy Jackson will provide play-by-play coverage.
The Marion County Warriors will try to go back-to-back as state football champions this Saturday.
The Warriors were tied with host Eagleton Academy at 14 early in the fourth quarter before scoring the final 19 points in a 33-14 victory to earn a return to the BlueCross Bowl at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium next week.
Maso Mays led a balanced rushing attack with 91 yards on 17 carries, with Jayden Frazier adding 89 on eight, Zaiden Humphrey 82 on 14, and Martin 43 on 10.
Second-ranked Marion County (13-1) will face third-ranked Huntingdon (13-1) — a 35-34 winner over No. 1 Milan in Friday night’s other semifinal — for the 2A title at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 6.
For those who can’t be at the game, you can listen to all of the action live on 104.9 FM The River WEPG, 910 AM, online at www.theriver1049.com, and on SVEConnect Channel 4.  Dave Daffron and Heath Thacker will be on the call.
