South Putnam falls to Monrovia

After finding a seam in Monrovia's defense, South Putnam junior Jimmy Rutter leaps to catch a pass from quarterback Grady McHugh during Friday's nonconference game on the Bulldogs' field. (Banner Graphic/ STEVE PAGE)

The No. 7-ranked Monrovia Bulldogs football team showed no signs of letting up on Friday night when it defeated the South Putnam Eagles (0-3) 46-12 on one of the hottest days of the calendar year in Indiana.

The win broke a four-game losing streak to the Eagles for the Bulldogs and improved their season record to 2-1.

The game was played to completion, finishing just before storms broke over the area.

The Bulldogs were able to avoid a lapse following their 74-7 victory over the Cascade Cadets in week two.

The team was able to gain 301 yards of total offense, with 20 coming through the air and 281 yards coming on the ground. These numbers only cemented their already impressive season averages.

Monrovia's power trio at running back, made up of sophomore Garrison Lee, junior Jaden Rhea and senior Trevor Ellis, was able to continue the seemingly unstoppable attack by each reaching 60 yards in the game for a third consecutive week.

Lee reached the end zone twice and rushed for 67 yards with his power run technique. Rhea reached the end zone twice to bring him to five total rushing touchdowns on the season.

Rhea added 109 yards to his already team-leading 320 yards. Ellis gained 100 yards and scored once in just 10 touches.

The trio has now combined for 18 touchdowns and 1,072 total yards through three weeks.

The Bulldogs' quarterback, junior John Williams, continued his stellar season without a mistake.

Williams now stands at 6-of-15 passing for the season with 133 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.

Defensively, the Bulldogs continue to improve week by week. After giving up 41 points and 292 passing yards to open the season against Cardinal Ritter, the team improved by only allowing seven points and 239 passing yards to the Cascade Cadets.

In Week Three, the Bulldogs held the Eagles to 182 passing yards and 12 points.

The Bulldogs held the Eagles to just 65 yards on the ground.

Adding to the already impressive defensive numbers, the Bulldogs reached the Eagles' quarterback, junior Grady McHugh, once.

This sack came from Bulldogs junior Dristin McCubbins. McCubbins now has five sacks this season.

On a somber note from the game, Bulldog freshman Dalton Smith suffered a severe leg injury in the early portions of the second quarter. The injury caused an elongated break in play while Smith was tended to on the field. Smith was taken from the field on stretcher, in an ambulance. No more information is known at this time.

The Eagles return home to host county rival North Putnam.