Cougars improve to 3-0 after win over Cascade

CLAYTON -- With the tempertures already miserable, the Cascade Cadets faced a red hot North Putnam Cougar squad that was ready to do battle. North Putnam moved to 3-0 on the season with a 64-12 win.

From the opening kickoff the Cougars established their dominance in this game.

The Cougars got the ball first and it did not take long before Kolten Everts would put the ball in the hands of Jake Smerage and he would find the endzone for a quick score. The PAT attempt was a fake and Everts found a wide open receiver in the endzone for the two points.

The first possession for the Cadets was not as productive as the Cougar defense came out hungry, shutting the Cadets down with negative yards in the first possession.

With a fourth and 22 the Cadets punted the ball to a waiting Jake Smerage who took it and gave the Cougars good starting position at their own 46-yard line.

But the trouble was just starting for the Cadets as Everts handed the ball off to Tyler Shorter and went off to the races to the right side taking it all the way to the endzone for the Cougars second score of the game with only eight minutes off the clock in the first quarter. The PAT was good and the Cougars went up 15-0

On the next possession, the Cadets mounted a good drive led by a 22-yard pass from Colin Smith to Brandon Blinn. The next play the two would hook up again for a quick Cadet score. The point after would be no good though.

North Putnam's offense stalled on the next possession giving the ball back to the Cadets, but on fourth down the Cougars got a roughing the kicker penalty and gave the Cadets a first down on the Cougar 26.

But the Cadets' drive would stall and turn it over on downs. The Cougars would strike fast as a give to Shorter around the right side would once again lead to a score 82 yards later.

The Cougars were up 22-6 with nine minutes left before the half.

The Cadets came out throwing on the next possession resulting in a six-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Blinn for the only other score the Cadets would get in the game.

The Cougars would again drive the ball quickly down the field handing the ball off to Holsapple around the left side for another Cougar touchdown. 29-12 Cougars.

North would intercept a pass on the next series for Cascade and on their own nine yard line they gave the ball to Shorter and let him go around the end and leave the Cadet defenders for a 91 yard touchdown just before the half.

A three and out for the Cadets and the Cougars gave the ball again with time left. A streaking Holsapple down the sidelines would catch a beautiful pass from Smith for another touchdown with 26 seconds left and a good PAT put the Cougars up 43-12 at the half.

The second half would be all North Putnam. A fumble recovery by the Cougars on the Cadets' first possession in this half put the ball on the one yard line where Allain St Victor would go in for the score, putting North Putnam up 50-12

A kickoff to the Cadets led to three quick downs of no gain. On fourth down the Cascade punt was blocked giving the Cougars good field position and leading to another Cougar touchdown when St. Victor took it 24 yards for the score, putting the Cougars up 57-12.

A fumble recovery by the Cougars on Cascades next possession and St Victor again would find the endzone one more time putting the Cougars up 64-12 and that would be the final.

North Putnam will host South Putnam Friday at 7 p.m.