Two Hodges TDs lift Cougars to victory

Brad Hodges of North Putnam scored two TDs in the North Putnam win. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGEN)

ROACHDALE -- On a night when defense ruled, it was fitting that one last stop Friday sealed the victory for North Putnam.

Having given up 177 yards on 24 carries to Seeger's Alex McMahan, the Cougars needed one last stop on fourth-and 3 at their own 33-yard line.

Everyone on the field knew the handoff was going to McMahan, right up the middle, as it had all night. One stop and the game was effectively over with less than two minutes remaining.

North Putnam (3-5, 1-2 WCC) got exactly what it needed, stuffing McMahan for a one-yard gain and a turnover on downs.

Although the Patriots (1-7, 1-5 WRC) got one last possession with seconds remaining, that last McMahan run was their last serious threat of the night.

The 14-7 win was a nice turnaround for a Cougar team that had lost two straight. While the offense struggled at times, a strong defense and two touchdowns from junior Brad Hodges made the difference.

"We always talk that we can bend, but don't break defensively," Cougar coach Greg Barret said. "And they've done that. The last three, four weeks they've done a nice job. We just haven't helped them out on offense. That's kind of been a major emphasis in us executing offensively because defensively it's there. They did a great job. They bent a little bit, we didn't break, though, when it got crucial."

Strong defense and struggling offenses were the order of the first half for both teams. While both were able to move the ball on the ground, drives tended to stall out or end in turnovers on both sides.

The Cougars were also victimized by penalties in the first half, as what would have been their two biggest plays -- a blocked punt by Nolan Ensor and an 88-yard touchdown run from Ethan Christy -- were nullified by penalties.

Both teams went into the locker room knowing they had missed some opportunities.

The Patriots were the first to grab a second-half opportunity. Starting from its own 18, Seeger took the ball 82 yards in six plays, highlighted by a 58-yard scamper from McMahan that set them up deep in North Putnam territory.

Four plays later, the Seeger junior found the end zone from two yards out. The Patriots' first made extra point of the season made it 7-0 with 2:15 remaining in the third.

Barrett had to like what he saw next from his team. Hodges took the ensuing kickoff at the Cougar 33-yard line and followed his blocks to the west sideline for a 67-yard kickoff return.

A missed PAT kept the Cougars down 7-6, but the Patriot momentum was gone.

"The kickoff return by Brad was exactly what we knew he could do. We're very excited to see that," Barrett said.

Another key special teams play set the Cougars up for the winning score.

With Seeger punting from deep in its own territory late in the fourth quarter, a nice return set the Cougars up at the Patriot 23 yard line first-and-10.

The Cougars again turned to Hodges, who took the ball for a 23-yard touchdown and the lead.

Hodges, who had been playing quarterback for the Cougars, took this week's changes in stride and had perhaps his best game of the year.

"I got switched up this week, got moved to a different position, and our team really came together," Hodges said. "We had a freshman step up in Hayden Rudes. He stepped up and played some Q (quarterback). Our team really came together tonight and played to our potential and I just followed my blocks all night."

Hodges led the Cougars with 86 yards on 15 carries.

Another guy playing a different position added to the lead for the Cougars, with Mike Hook, who is listed as an offensive lineman, taking in the two-point run for a 14-7 lead.

"We had several guys running the ball well -- Mikey Hook running the ball and scoring on the two-point play was huge for us tonight," Barrett said. "I'm just proud of all their effort."

The coach also praised his freshman signal caller, as well as the young man whose spot he took.

"Hayden did a great job. The guys rallied around him," Barrett said. "He didn't fold under pressure. He threw the ball well and ran the ball well. We did some good things. He gives you a little different dynamic back there as opposed to Brad.

"Brad did a good job, (he was) very positive about things," Barrett added. "He understands what we're trying to do. He's been getting a little banged up recently and we know that. We've got a young freshman who we think has potential. This was a great night tonight for him and we're excited about the future with him back there."

The Cougars return to WCC action on Friday, Oct. 17 when they conclude the regular season against county rival Cloverdale at 7 p.m. The Clovers lost to Owen Valley 61-8 on Friday.

At North Putnam

North Putnam 0 0 6 8 -- 14

3rd Quarter

SHS: McMahan 2-yd. run (Smith kick) 2:15

NP: Hodges 67-yd. kickoff return (kick failed) 2:02

4th Quarter

NP: Hodges 23-yd. run (run good) 3:57

TEAM STATS

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Seeger (1-7, 1-5 WRC)

Rushing (41 rushes, 233 yards): McMahan 25-178, Wade 9-38, Steele 3-8, Morgan 2-8, Smith 1-6, Sprague 5-(-11)

Passing (1-2, 0 INT, 0 TD, 2 yards): Sprague 0-1-0-0, 0 yards; Blessing 1-1-0-0, 9 yards

Receiving: Steele 1-9

North Putnam (3-5, 1-2 WCC)

Rushing (46 rushes, 166 yards): Hodges 15-86, Everts 9-19, Riggen 9-10, Judy 5-21, Christy 5-22, Haste 1-(-1), Rudes 4-(-3)

Passing (5-14, 1 INT, 0 TD, 69 yards): Rudes 5-12-0-0, 75 yards; McPherson 0-1-1-0, 0 yards; Everts 0-1-0-0, 0 yards

Receiving: Everts 2-25, McPherson 2-20, Riggen 1-30