WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsSouth Pitt still on the "road" to Cookeville

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. (WRCB) -- The road to Cookeville has become quite literal for the South Pittsburg Pirates.

The defending Class 1A state champs have enjoyed home-field advantage throughout much of the playoffs the past few years, but it's been quite a different story in 2011.

"We've had to do a lot of traveling," said linebacker and Class 1A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year finalist Coltin Blevins. "I think we're pretty used to it at this point and we're just ready to go wherever."

While the path back to the title game may be different, so far the results have been the same.

After an opening round home win over Grace Academy, the third-seeded Pirates went on the road for a second round win over second-seeded Greenback and a quarterfinal rout of top-seeded Coalfield last week.

Next up is a trip to familiar foe Gordonsville at 8 p.m. ET Friday in the state semifinals, a venue head coach Vic Grider describes as "one of the best high school atmospheres in the state."

"It's been different, but I'm proud of how our kids have handled it," Grider said. "We look like a seasoned football team and a team that's been in a lot of different environments.

"I'd be disappointed at this point if something caught us off guard or overwhelmed us. We just have to find a way to put together one more complete football game to get back to where we want to be."

It will likely take a complete football game to beat the Tigers, who have scored 35 or more points seven times this season while holding opponents to 14 points or less seven times.Their only two losses came to teams from higher classifications, and they've won their two playoff games by an average of 38.5 points.

Despite the numbers, Grider feels his experienced team is ready for the challenge.

"Our kids are zoned in. They realize what's at stake," Grider said. "They know what it takes to get there because all these kids have been in this position the past few years.

"But you still have to go out on Friday night and play a complete football game, and I hope we've got one more in us."