Putnam Runs Over Monticello
Defense was not the word of the day as the Region 8-AA leading Putnam War Eagles and the Varsity ‘Canes slugged it out at football weather perfect Rose Bowl field on Friday night.
The War Eagles amassed enough yardage to stretch most of the way home to Eatonton with the ‘Canes nipping at their heels until the Monticello 2010 season curse of fumbles and penalties turned a close game into a rout.
The ‘Canes received the opening kick-off and saw their first drive stall on their own 31 due to a holding penalty. Putman fielded the punt and began their campaign on their own 45 and it took just two plays from scrimmage, including a 53 yard touchdown sprint by their quarterback, to make an early 7-0 score.
However, the ‘Canes quickly answered early as they have all season with a 95 yard drive of their own to knot the score at 7-7. Despite two penalties, the ‘Canes were able to put together a long McMichael to Edwards pass combined with two runs of 12 and 22 yards by A.J. Thomas and a 16 yard touchdown run by scampering, changing direction, breaking tackles Rooks to find the end zone with Enrique adding the XP. It took 59 seconds after the kick-off for Putnam to take the lead which they would hold for the rest of the night.
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A reverse with a half-back pass resulted in a 50 yard TD. The PAT fake was stopped short and Putman led 13-7. Again, the young Canes showed they could keep up early by Rooks taking the kick-off for 65 yards to the War Eagle 21. The first quarter ended with Monticello having a 4th and 5 on the Putman 15.
The second quarter started badly for the Canes but ended with a bang. A fumble turned the ball over to Putman on the 21 and it took only four plays, aided by more Monticello penalties, for the War Eagles to get another TD. Once again the 2 point conversion came up short and now Monticello was on the low end of the 19-7 score.
Another fumble on their own 38 gave the young ‘Canes an opportunity to give up, but they stopped the strong War Eagles at the 15 yard line on a fourth and two. Then the ‘Canes gave the War Eagles a taste of their own medicine with a lightning fast 85 yard run by Rooks and XP by Enrique to bring the home team to within 5 points at 19-14.
A chop block and roughing the passer penalties against the ‘Canes assisted Putnam’s next drive into the end zone and a 26-14 lead with 23 seconds left in the half. Plenty of time for a short run and two McMichael passes of 32 and 16 yards to bring the Canes to within six at halftime with the score at 26-20.
The size of the Putnam line and the speed of their backfield coupled with Monticello mistakes sealed the ‘Canes demise in the second half. A long War Eagle pass after the kick-off and two Monticello turnovers led to an unanswered 19 points for Putman and a 45-20 lead.
A 65 yard McMichael to Edwards pass was about the only Hurricane crowd cheers for the third quarter which ended at 45-26. The fourth quarter was all War Eagle and the very long game ended at 10:17 p.m. with the Canes falling to 0-7 for the year.
“Our kids never quit. We hung in there and fought to the end,” reported Head Coach Roberts after the game. “We really need to play four complete quarters.
“Sadarius Rooks, Adrian Campbell, and Brandon Barger had some big plays with Barger playing both sides of the ball after the injury to Van Horn.
“Next week we meet a very athletic Greene County team on the road. They have a lot of speed and one of the best offensive tackles in the region. Greene beat Putman by two scores, but those points came on turnovers at the end of the game.
“A key for us will be if our kids can fight through some adversity. Justin Van Horn fractured his leg, Travis Hulsey injured his ankle, Xavier “Dee” Chapman is still nursing his sprain and Chris Thomas is not at full speed.
“We will have to get more folks involved which means giving chances to some of our younger players. We are a young team, with only three seniors seeing much playing time, and our big fan support this year means a lot to the team.”
Stats vs. Putnam County
OFFENSE
Passing
B. McMichael 7 for 16 158 yards and 2 TD’s 1 Int.
Receiving
B. Edwards 1 catch for 16
S. Rooks 3 catches for 56 yards
A. Campbell 2 catches for 81 yards and 2 TD’s
T. Jackson 1 catch for 5 yards
RUSHING
A.J. Thomas 16 carries for 71 yards
S. Rooks 13 carries for 129 yards 2 TDs
C. Thomas 7 carries for 40 yards 2 fumbles
Total yards 398 and 11 first downs
DEFENSE
S. Blankenship 10 tackles and 3 assists
A. J. Thomas 14 tackles and 4 assists
D. Norwood 7 tackles
B. Barger 4 tackles and 1 assit
C. Thomas 3 tackles and 1 assist
J. Bermudez 3 tackles
B. Edwards 3 tackles and 1 assist
S. Rooks , D. Stone, and E. Ammons each with 2 tackles
Putnam County 558 total yards and 14 first downs
SPECIAL TEAMS
E. Enrique 2 for 4 in extra pt. attempts
J. Van Horn 1 punt for 36 yards
A. J. Thomas 2 punts for 36 yard average
T. Jackson 1 punt return for 22 yards
S. Rooks 9 kick returns for 198 total yards
C. Thomas 1 kick return for 7 yards
PENALTIES
Monticello 9 for 85 yards
Putnam County 6 for 55
yards