Cougars battle Knights tough in loss

North Putnam's Chris Murray carried nine times for 109 yards and a touchdown against Northview.

Carey Fox photo

BRAZIL —The Northview Knights set themselves up for a pivotal Western Indiana Conference match-up next weekend with a 41-21 victory over visiting North Putnam Friday night.

A massive crowd was on hand for homecoming, but a 4-1 Cougar squad gave the Knights plenty of fits during a tight first half that ended with Northview holding a 20-7 edge.

The Knights elected to receive the first half kick off and in typical 2018 Northview fashion, scored quickly.

M.J. Shelton powered to a one-yard TD run and had runs of 46 and seven yards in the four-play, 62 yard drive that took just a minute and 44 seconds. However, North Putnam’s run game displayed its own big play ability on the next drive.

The Cougars kept the ball on the ground for three straight Aidan Baker runs before quarterback Evan Davies hit Chris Murray for an eight-yard completion. A Northview personal foul flag gave the Cougars another 15 yards. One play later it was Murray flashing through the offensive line to score from 43 yards out to tie the game.

“(North Putnam) had a lot of kids back up front and they had a lot more size than us up front,” Northview coach Mark Raetz said of the Cougars. “They are a good team. There is a reason they were 4-1 coming into the game. I thought our guys responded well, but I felt we could have played better.”

Penalties were a problem for the Knights in the first half and two holding calls help derail a nine-play drive that came up short on a fourth down play deep in Cougar territory.

North Putnam responded with a drive of its own that spanned into the second quarter, but ended on a failed fake punt as Baker was halted on a direct snap on fourth down.

The Knights came right back to take the lead on the next drive as quarterback Trey Shaw found Trevor Cook on a 30-yard pass to the four-yard line. Three plays later Shaw powered in for a 14-7 Northview lead.

The defense came up big for the Knights on the next Cougar drive as Shelton stepped in front of a Davies pass and set Northview up on the Cougar 32-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-two situation, Shaw called his own number as he reversed field and raced 14 yards, diving into the pylon to give Northview a 20-7 halftime lead.

The third quarter proved to be pivotal for the Knights as they scored on the first play of their opening third quarter possession. Shelton cut back through the line and out ran the defense for a 50-yard score.

The turnover bug bit the Cougars on the next drive as a fumbled punt snap was scooped up by Korbin Allen in stride and he scored from 15 yards out.

The Cougars next drive was halted via a Noah Parr interception and three plays later it was Shaw faking a hand off and racing 37 yards for a 41-7 Northview lead. The Knights scored three times in just six minutes of game time.

With a seemingly comfortable lead, the Knights might have let off the gas a bit prematurely as North Putnam fought to the end.

The Cougars answered with a 69-yard TD run by Murray, who had 109 rushing yards in the game. North Putnam forced a Knights punt on four plays and the Cougars scored seven plays later on a 23-yard pass from Davies to Colton Clifford.

The ground game was strong for both teams as Northview ran for 251 yards on 30 carries and the Cougars posted 229 yards on 30 carries. Shelton led the Knights with 129 yards on 12 carries. Shaw had three touchdowns on the ground and the Cougars also got 85 yards rushing from Baker.

The 6-0 Knights travel to 6-0 Greencastle in a battle for the West Division lead in the WIC. The 4-2 Cougars host West Vigo.

First quarter

Nv — M.J. Shelton 1 run (Dylan Boor kick), 10:16

NP — Aidan Baker 43 run (Elliot Sabens kick), 7:48

Second quarter

Nv — Trey Shaw one-yard run (Boor kick), 7:11

Nv — Shaw 14 run (kick failed), 3:11

Third quarter

Nv — Shelton 50 run (Boor kick), 9:48

Nv — Korbin Allen 15 fumble return (Boor kick), 7:42

Nv — Shaw 37 run (Boor kick), 3:34

Fourth quarter

NP — Chris Murray 69-yard run (Sabens kick), 4:19

NP — Colton Clifford 23 pass from Evan Davies (Sabens kick), 3:09

Individual stats

Passing — Northview: (Trey Shaw 9-11 117 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int.; Keegan Garrison 0-0 0 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int.); North Putnam: (Evan Davies 7-14 68 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int.)

Rushing — Northview 30-251 yards (MJ Shelton 12-129, 2 TD, Trey Shaw 10-81, 3 TD, Korbin Allen 7-37, Dominick Eaglin 1-4). North Putnam (Lucius Alexander 1-(-10), Chris Murray 9-109 TD, Evan Davies 9-45, Aidan Baker 11-85)

Receiving — Northview: (Trevor Cook 6-72, Thomas Gearld 2-27, Ilias Gordon 1-18). North Putnam (Lucius Alexander 2-14, Kevin Barger 2-14, Chris Murray 1-8, Kolten Thorson 1-9), Colton Clifford 1-23 TD).