After a 45-33 win over Southmont in the opening round of the sectional, the South Putnam varsity football team hosts North Montgomery Friday at 7 p

After a 45-33 win over Southmont in the opening round of the sectional, the South Putnam varsity football team hosts North Montgomery Friday at 7 p.m.

Although the Eagles didn't play the Chargers in the regular season, South Putnam is familiar with the the team to a certain extent.

"They're not on our schedule," South Putnam coach Mark Wildman said. "But we follow their conference as much as we do any because they have teams in our sectional."

North Montgomery comes out of the Sagamore Conference, where they finished 1-6 on the season. The conference includes larger schools such as Lebanon, Danville and Crawfordsville -- not to mention defending Class 2A Champions Tri-West. Although the Chargers only had a 2-8 overall record on the season, they are riding high off the momentum of a 21-20 opening round win over North Putnam.

South Putnam has not faced North Montgomery since the 2003 opening round of the sectional.

"Watching them on video, they're not exactly the same as they were then," Wildman said. "But they are similar. I think they're probably throwing the ball more, but their formation is the same."

The Chargers passing game was in effect against the Cougars. Quarterback Jake German was 15-of-23 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while 6-foot-4 wide receiver Nathan Evans caught seven passes for 70 yards.

South Putnam wasn't lacking offense on Friday either. Quarterback Anthony Tomasino threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Drew Christy had a field day. Christy had 205 rushing yards on 20 carries, averaging 10.25 yards per carry.

Wildman would love to seen Christy get going again Friday.

"I just think it helps our entire offense," he said. "Probably the biggest thing out of that is that we completed nine out of 11 passes. That's a lot easier to do if the team is focusing on stopping the run."

Christy was third in the West Central Conference in rushing and scoring in the regular season, averaging 92.3 yards per game and totaling 72 points on the season. Tomasino also had a solid season, finishing fourth in the WCC in passing, averaging 135.9 yards and one touchdown per game. Wildman has been happy with his upperclassmen effort all season.

"We are senior dominate, and our captains have just done a good job with that all year," Wildman said. "Zach Rhine, Drew Christy, Matt Hicks, Joe Gardner, Anthony Tomasino -- those have been our captains since our second week of practice. And they've been pretty good."

In addition, Wildman said his special teams have been the difference in some football games this season.

"We've been making some big plays on special teams," Wildman said. "Sometimes, when teams are evenly matched, it could come down to special teams."

The two teams may not be totally even, but both are coming off a big, opening round sectional win. Friday's win was South Putnam's first sectional win, since enter Class 2A in 2003.

The Eagles are not about to let up now.

"We' d like to have to say on who wins the sectional," Wildman said. "For us to do that, we have to get by another week."