The South Pittsburg (TN) varsity football team will face Clay County (Celina, TN) in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22. This matchup is part of the “2024 Tennessee High School Football Playoff Brackets: TSSAA – Division I Class 1A” tournament.

South Pittsburg vs Clay County Football Game Info:

What: Tennessee High School Football
Who: South Pittsburg vs Clay County
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: TBD
Bracket: 2024 Tennessee High School Football Playoff Brackets: TSSAA – Division I Class 1A
Watch here: Watch here

Game preview: South Pittsburg vs Clay County

As the 2024-25 high school football season nears its peak, two powerhouse teams in Tennessee’s Class 1A are making waves in the region: Clay County and South Pittsburg. Both teams have posted impressive records, with identical 10-2 overall marks, and their head-to-head performance against common opponents speaks to the level of competition they’ve faced. As they both eye playoff success, let’s take a closer look at how these two teams stack up against each other.

Team Overview

• Clay County (24-25):
  • Record: 10-2 (3-0 District)
  • Home: 6-0, Away: 3-2, Neutral: 1-0
  • Win %: .833, District %: 1.000
  • Points Scored (PF): 419, Points Allowed (PA): 174
• South Pittsburg (24-25):
  • Record: 10-2 (5-0 District)
  • Home: 5-1, Away: 4-1, Neutral: 1-0
  • Win %: .833, District %: 1.000
  • Points Scored (PF): 437, Points Allowed (PA): 116

Both teams have excelled in their respective districts, posting perfect district records—Clay County at 3-0 and South Pittsburg at 5-0. Their high-scoring offenses and stifling defenses have made them formidable opponents throughout the regular season.

Offensive and Defensive Stats

• Scoring Averages:
  • Clay County: 34.9 points per game (PPG)
  • South Pittsburg: 36.4 PPG

While South Pittsburg edges out Clay County in scoring, both teams have demonstrated the ability to put up points when needed. Clay County, however, excels in the third quarter with an average of 13.0 points per game, showing resilience after halftime.

• Team Stat Comparison:
  • Clay County has an explosive passing game, averaging 279.1 passing yards per game and 104.2 rushing yards per game.
  • South Pittsburg has a more balanced attack, focusing on a powerful rushing game alongside an effective passing strategy, but Clay County outpaces them in total yards per game (383.3 vs. South Pittsburg’s 279.1).

Key Players to Watch

• Clay County:
  • Ayden Soto leads the rushing attack with 63.5 yards per game, while Nate Adams has been impressive with 275.8 passing yards per game.
  • Lance Burchette has been a key receiving target, averaging 116.9 yards per game.
• South Pittsburg:
  • Nate Adams (not to be confused with Clay County’s quarterback) has been a dual threat, putting up 287.2 total yards per game.
  • Reece Adams leads the defense with 9.4 tackles per game, while Hayden Adams has contributed with 0.4 sacks per game.

Common Opponents Breakdown

Both teams have faced off against several of the same opponents with similar success. Against Red Boiling Springs, both teams posted dominant victories—Clay County winning 49-0 on October 18th and South Pittsburg winning 60-0 on November 8th. Against Sale Creek, Clay County triumphed 28-7 on November 8th, while South Pittsburg secured a 41-13 victory on October 25th. Another common opponent, Whitwell, saw Clay County win 39-27 on November 15th, while South Pittsburg defeated Whitwell 49-7 on November 1st.

Both teams finished strong against their common rivals, securing clean sweeps in their respective matchups.

Looking Ahead

As Clay County and South Pittsburg head into the postseason, both teams are in prime position to make deep playoff runs. Their head-to-head performance against common opponents demonstrates their elite status in Tennessee high school football. Whether it’s Clay County’s offensive firepower or South Pittsburg’s balanced approach, this matchup is one to watch in the coming weeks, as both teams continue to dominate their districts.

With their perfect district records and explosive offenses, expect these two teams to meet again later in the playoffs, potentially for a title clash that promises to be one for the ages.