By Kelsey Prose In North Jackson’s first encounter with the South Pittsburg Pirates (TN), the Chiefs blazed ahead until the Pirates plundered the lead late in the fourth quarter to steal the 21-20 victory at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson. North Jackson got on the board late in the first quarter after EJ Wilson combined two runs for 30 yards to set up Dalton Morris’ 1-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, South Pittsburg suffered a turnover as Nick Jernigan intercepted a pass that gave way to a North Jackson touchdown to set the Chiefs up with a 14-point cushion as they headed into the break. North Jackson didn’t miss a beat after halftime and drove 57 yards capped off by Morris’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Wilson to give the Chiefs’ a 20-0 lead with 6:09 left in the third quarter. South Pittsburg got on the board for the first time with two minutes left in the third when Richard Hunter threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to RaCash Kelly. The Pirates started their rally with less than five minutes remaining in the game. The Pirates closed the gap to a one-score game after Jacob Bivens caught a pass and busted his way through the Chiefs’ defense for a touchdown. After a series of unfortunate events, a muffed punt from South Pittsburg that was recovered by the Chiefs but didn’t result in a first down, South Pittsburg took over on the 50-yard line with 1:29 remaining. The Pirates opened their playbook, ran a reverse, and then threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Hunter with 44 seconds left. The PAT gave the Pirates the 1-point lead that gave way to the victory. North Jackson’s defense held the Pirates to two first downs during the first half. North Jackson (2-3, 2-1) travels to Madison County (3-3, 2-1) as they head back into region competition.
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