Cougars add to Viking woes with shutout win

WEST TERRE HAUTE - The North Putnam Cougars righted the ship Friday night with a balanced 419 yards of offense and cruised to a 48-0 victory over the West Vigo Vikings in WIC Green Division action.

The Cougars got off the bus wanting to run the ball and that they did on the opening drive. Their first 10 plays were runs by three different ball carriers.

Christian Kramer, Caiden Hankins and Brogan Woodall got the visitors on the door step. Kramer finished off the drive with a five-yard pass to Paxton O’Brien for the game’s opening score. Evan Polley added the first of six, missing just one, extra points to go up 7-0.

Their next possession did not take as long. After an incompletion, Woodall got the ball on a reverse and raced 47 yards around the right side for their second score to go up 14-0 just seven minutes in.

While the defense swarmed the Viking running game, North Putnam added another score going back to the ground game in the second quarter.

A nine-play drive concluded when Kramer kept the ball and went in from three yards out as the Cougars were pulling away.

West Vigo showed some life, finally getting into North Putnam territory. The Cougar defense stiffened and stalled the drive.

Woodall would take full advantage, busting loose on a 65-yard run for a score to make it 28-0, which would be the score at halftime.

“We came out and were determined to pound the rock. We swarmed around the football on defense. We did some good things tonight,” said Cougar coach Scott Moore.

In the second half, the Cougars mixed in the passing game and just missed on some big plays. The visitors were able to march down the field on a 10-play, time-consuming drive which was finished off with a three-yard run from Braden Glaze.

The Cougar defense then forced the only turnover on the night when they stripped the ball and recovered the fumble to set themselves up at the Viking 23-yard line.

A touchdown was called back because of a penalty, but North Putnam would not be deterred. Jayden Laffin scored on a two-yard run, which was set up as Kramer hooked up with Wesley Murphy on a 24-yard pass.

With the running clock now in effect, the Cougars added a fourth quarter score. Kramer this time found Brody Kinkead open down the seam for a 46-yard scoring strike. The extra point made it the final 48-0 as the Cougars picked up their second win of the season.

A balanced attack of 243 yards rushing and 181 yards passing set the tone. The defense did its part, allowing only 66 yards of offense on the night.

North Putnam is now 2-5 on the season, but 2-1 within the division. The Cougars will play host to Brown County next Friday night in another divisional game.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

8:08 NP O’Brien 5-yard pass from Kramer (Polley kick)

5:17 NP Woodall 47-yard run (Polley kick)

2nd Quarter

11:37 NP Kramer 3-yard run (Polley kick)

6:14 NP Woodall 65-yard run (Polley kick)

3rd Quarter

7:50 NP Glaze 3-yard run (kick failed)

5:52 NP Laffin 2-yard run (Polley kick)

4th Quarter

10:20 NP Kinkead 46-yard pass from Kramer (Polley kick)

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Rushing - (NP) Woodall 5-128, Kramer 9-62, Hankins 4-21, Glaze 3-18, Murphy 1-2, Young 1-2, Thurman 1-0; (WV) Cobb 14-41, Hedden 7-24, Wallace 7-6

Passing - (NP) Kramer 10-18-181-0-0, Thurman 0-1-0-0-0; (WV) Hedden 0-2-0-0-0, Stark 0-4-0-0-0

Receiving - (NP) Murphy 4-72, Kinkead 2-80, O’Brien 2-18, Woodall 2-11