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McKenzie to battle South Pittsburg
in Blue Cross Bowl Friday afternoon
NASHVILLE - Often, when two to title-fight
contenders prepare to square off, they often
hurl a lot of trash talk against each other.
With heavyweights McKenzie (13-1) and South
Pittsburg (14-0) set to duel for the Class A
state football championship in the Blue
Cross Bowl 3:30 p.m. Friday at Murfreesboro,
there seems to be nothing but respect
between the two schools. In fact, the Blue
Cross Bowl media day in Nashville Monday
morning resembled a love fest.
South Pittsburg coach Vic Grider is a
second-generation Grider to coach the
Pirates. His father, Don Grider, who passed
away May 4 of this year following surgical
complications, coached the Pirates to four
state title games going 1-3. The elder
Grider coached the Pirates from 1969 to
1992, even coaching his son Vic in the 1985
championship game vs. Lake County (the
Falcons and Kenny Flagg won that game 20-12
at Vanderbilt that day). The current Pirate
coach said he is impressed with what he's
seen of the Rebels thus far. He especially
had praise for McKenzie quarterback Derek
Carr, a Mr. Football finalist, but concluded
there was more to the Rebels than Carr.
"Carr is a guy who makes that team go," said
Grider. "But I'm impressed with their
running game; it looks like they are a
run-first team."
Grider, who has twice guided South Pittsburg
to two successful state championship
encounters, says his team has a decent
offense as well, led by his Mr. Football
finalist, Robert Robinson. Robinson has 23
touchdowns and over 2000 yards on the
season. In the Pirates' semifinal game, he
had 226 yards on 29 carries and two
touchdowns.
"Our offense starts with our running game
and it starts with our fullback," Grider
said. "Robertson plays linebacker, but most
of his numbers are at running back. He's a
special football player and I'm glad he's
playing for us."
Robinson is glad he's playing for South
Pittsburg, too, and has developed close
kinship with his teammates.
"All of our seniors have been playing
together since we were very young," said
Robinson. "It's been our childhood dream to
get here and we've made it."
Robinson had a fumble just before the half
of the Pirates' semifinal game with Hampton,
which killed a drive, but he atoned for it
by setting up the next several scores for
South Pittsburg and scoring the last of his
team's touchdowns on the night.
"Hampton is a good team and they've been to
the semifinals the last two or three years,"
said Robinson of his semifinal opponent.
"They played their hearts out and gave it
their best."
Robinson had praise for Carr as well as the
Rebels.
"Carr is a nice quarterback. He cuts it
loose and has a cannon for an arm, but they
look pretty balanced," he said. "They are a
pretty good team, obviously, because here
they are playing in the state title."
McKenzie coach Wade Comer, who brings his
first team to the apex, likes the excitement
that his team is generating and has a
healthy respect for South Pittsburg.
"This has been good for our program, our
city and our community to reach this game,
but we still have one more to go," he said.
"A lot of players have come through our
program and gotten us to the playoffs."
Some think that McKenzie and South Pittsburg
are somewhat similar, but Comer was quick to
disagree.
"I don't know if we're similar," he said.
"They have more speed than we do."
And Comer acknowledged the success South
Pittsburg has had since 1969. This is South
Pittsburg's seventh trip to the state title
game, but its first since 1999.
"They have a program we hope to become and
its a program we idolize because they have
several gold balls," said the Rebel coach.
"They know what to expect and know what
today is about...I think that gives them an
advantage."
Grider said that both McKenzie and South
Pittsburg are capable of scoring a lot of
points.
"I think it's going to come down to which
defenses stops the other," he said. "Both
teams have people at skilled positions."
The Pirate coach was dismayed at McKenzie's
performance against some perennial powers
this year.
"They have a solid defense and in nine or 10
of their games, their opponents have scored
a TD or less and that's all I need to know
about them," said Grider. "They beat
Huntingdon and played with Peabody and
that's all I need to get us woke up."
The Pirates are the Region 3A champions and
defeated Hampton 42-28 in a game that was
closer than the score. They won their first
state championship back in 1969 when they
beat Tennessee Preparatory School 26-6. They
lost to Brentwood Academy in 1974, lost to
Lake County in 1985 then fell to Spring Hill
and Orlando "Cool Papa" Wade 21-20 in 1986.
In 1994, South Pittsburg defeated Tim
Stallings Lake County Falcons 14-7 handing
them their first loss in the boundaries of
the midstate. In 1999, the Pirates hammered
Moore County 42-13.
"We have had a lot of years where we've
gotten here, but not a player on this team
has been here before," Grider said. "So this
is a new thing for us."
The Pirates are the Region 3A champions
while McKenzie is the 7A title holder.
McKenzie will be the visiting team on the
scoreboard and will wear white jerseys in
the state title game. Tickets are $10 and
available at McKenzie High School. For every
local ticket MHS sells, the school gets to
keep half the proceeds. Gate receipts in
Murfreesboro will be kept by the TSSAA.
(Jim Steele is editor and webmaster of the
sports website mckenzierebels.com)
South Pittsburg Pirates
Colors: orange and black
Region: 3A (champions)
Record: 14-0, 6-0 in region
Head coach: Vic Grider
Playoff history: 25th year, 49-21 overall,
state champs 1969, 1994, 1999, runners-up
1974, 1985, 1986
Aug. 31 at Marion County 47-19
Sep. 7 at Copper Basin (R) 53-0
Sep, 14 Lookout Valley (R) 41-6
Sep. 21 at David Brainerd (R) 49-0
Sep. 26 Tyner 25-21
Oct. 5 Whitwell 56-7
Oct. 12 at Boyd Buchanan 47-7
Oct. 19 at Silverdale 53-7
Oct. 26 Temple (R) 69-6
Nov. 2 Chattanooga Grace (R) 72-19
Nov. 9 Trousdale County W 32-16
Nov. 16 Friendship Christian 49-7
Nov. 23 Gordonsville W 33-13
Nov. 30 Hampton W 42-28
McKenzie Rebels
Colors: red and gray
Region: 7A (champions)
Record: 13-1, 7-0 in region
Head coach: Wade Comer
Playoff history: 16th year, 18-15 overall,
state semifinals 2001, 2002, 2007, state
quarterfinals 1980, 2000
Aug. 31 Dresden 42-0
Sep. 7 at Bruceton (R) 35-0
Sep. 14 at Peabody 24-34
Sep. 21 Union City (R) 42-39
Sep. 28 Huntingdon 28-19
Oct. 5 Gleason (R) 36-0
Oct. 11 at Greenfied (R) 41-8
Oct. 19 at West Carroll (R) 68-0
Oct. 26 Lake County (R) 50-0
Nov. 2 at South Fulton (R) 48-7
Nov. 9 Halls 47-7
Nov. 16 Fayette Academy 28-7
Nov. 23 Trinity Christian 48-21
Nov. 30 Mt. Pleasant 35-32 |
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