Five-time defending champs Alcoa use big second half to down GP in quarterfinals

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - After defeating county rival Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg-Pittman was staring down the beast that is Alcoa in the quarterfinals Friday night.

The Highlanders came out strong, scoring twice on an Alcoa team that hadn’t given up a point so far in the playoffs, but the Tornadoes came out of the locker room in the second half and picked up right where it left off - shutting out Gatlinburg-Pittman in the last two quarters to win 49-13.

Alcoa has scored 105 points in two playoff games. The competition level intensifies in the quarterfinals against Alcoa, who defeated GP in Week 10 43-0.

Alcoa is the five-time defending Class 3A champions, while this is GP’s first appearance in the quarterfinals since 2010.