Tiger Cubs roll to fourth straight

Saturday, September 10, 2016
South Putnam’s Jonah Sanders drags down Greencastle’s Tyler Edwards after a catch on Friday night.
Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

Greencastle’s Tiger Cubs used a ball-control offense and a stingy defense to remain undefeated on Friday night, defeating the South Putnam Eagles 28-0 in a Western Indiana Conference game shortened by weather.

Lightning stopped the action with 3:07 remaining, and the two schools decided not to reconvene today to finish the final few minutes.

Greencastle was forced to punt on its first drive, despite a 20-yard run by Devin Clar on the first play of the game.

South Putnam took over on its own 16, and marched all the way to the Tiger Cub 16 before a fourth-down pass by Allen Plunkett was intercepted by Greencastle’s Nick Costin.

After a Costin incompletion, Clar took off on the next play and bolted 76 yards for the game’s first score. The extra-point kick was unsuccessful, and the Tiger Cubs led 6-0 with 2:13 left in the first quarter.

Greencastle’s defense held South Putnam without a first down, and a mishandled snap on the punt attempt resulted in the Tiger Cubs taking over at the Eagle 33. Costin then lofted a perfect pass to lanky senior receiver J.T. Matthews for a 33-yard score.

South Putnam fumbled on its next possession, with the Tiger Cubs taking over near midfield.

Two runs by Derek Ummel helped the Tiger Cubs get to the Eagle 25, from where Costin hit tight end Jackie Scanland on a 25-yard score and an 18-0 lead.

The remainder of the first half was a combination of punts and lost fumbles, and the Tiger Cubs took their 18-point lead into halftime.

South Putnam had the first possession of the second half and did not pick up a first down, turning the ball over to Greencastle on its own 47.

The Tiger Cubs marched 53 yards in 10 plays with Costin scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. Ben Webb added the extra point, and the lead was up to 25-0.

The Eagles never quit charging ahead, as Plunkett took them from his own 16 to the Greencastle 30 on the last complete drive of the third period. A fourth-down incompletion halted that drive.

Greencastle took over in the final seconds of the third period at its own 30, and Costin led his team on a lengthy drive which consumed more than half of the final period and ended in a 30-yard Webb field goal.

Ummel had five carries on the drive for 25 yards, taking on a bigger role than usual and allowing Clar to save some wear and tear on his body.

Clar still finished with 154 yards, nearly half on the big TD run in the first half. Ummel finished with 50 yards, while Costin passed for 80 more and two touchdowns while also scoring one on the ground.

South Putnam’s Kyle Shaffer was again forced to work hard for his yardage, winding up with 59 yards.

South Putnam 0 0 0 0 — 0

Greencastle 12 6 7 3 — 28

G — Clar 76 run (kick failed)

G — Matthews 33 pass from Costin (run failed)

G — Scanland 25 pass from Costin (pass failed)

G — Costin 1 run (Webb kick)

G — Webb 30 FG

SP G

FIrst downs 8 13

Rushes-yds 36-119 30-215

Passing yards 56 80

Total offense 175 295

Passing 4-8-1 4-10-0

Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-2

Penalties-yds 4-17 4-37

Punts-avg 3-34 2-35

Individual statistics

Rushing — South Putnam: Shaffer 18-59, Scott 6-68, LeBlanc 1-(-4), Pllunkett 10-(-16), Cain 1-12. Greencastle: Clar 12-154, Ummel 11-50, A.Costin 3-(-5), N.Costin 1-9, Scanland 3-7.

Passing — South Putnam: Plunkett 3-7-1 51, Shaffer 1-1-0 5. Greencastle: Costin 4-10-0 80.

Receiving — South Putnam: Higgins 2-49, Sanders 1-2, Plunkett 1-5. Greencastle: Matthews 1-33, Scanland 1-25, Edwards 1-10., A.Costin 1-12.

Next game — Greencastle (5-0, 2-0) plays at Cascade, while South Putnam (2--2, 0-2) hosts Edgewood for homecoming.

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