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Cougars edged by Speedway at sectional
SPEEDWAY -- The undefeated North Putnam Cougars football team, currently ranked 2nd in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 2A poll, traveled to Speedway Friday night to play the Sparkplugs in the second round of the Class 2A, Sectional 30 tournament.
The Cougars knew entering the game they would have a tough job on their hands, having narrowly defeated the Sparkplugs three weeks earlier, 35-32. Speedway scored more points against North Putnam in that game than the combined total output of the Cougar's nine other opponents this season, 22 points.
This game turned out to be as terrific a battle between two great teams, as the one three weeks earlier.
However, this game will be remembered for a North Putnam team decision made at the end of the game that affected the final outcome of the game, ending the Cougars' season, 28-27.
The first quarter went scoreless as defense would be the story in this period as each team was limited to less than 48 yards in total offense.
North Putnam's Seth Vondersaar blocked a Speedway punt, and teammate Rob Ford scooped-up the loose ball and returned it 14 yards to the Speedway 17 yard line.
Unfortunately, the only turnover of the night for North Putnam ended the Cougars first scoring opportunity of the night.
The rest of the game would be different story, as Speedway was able to score twice in the second quarter, and North Putnam drove 89 yards down the field, ending the drive with a Scott Hunt 1-yard run for a touchdown with 14.8 showing on the clock. After Griffen Dahlstrom kicked the extra point, the Cougars trailed 7-12 and halftime.
North Putnam took the lead with 5:57 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard pass from Hunt to Kyle Adams, giving the Cougars a 14-12 advantage over the Sparkplugs.
The next Speedway drive was halted as Tyler Osborn intercepted a Sparkplug pass, but North Putnam's ensuing drive stalled, and a fluke play while punting the ball away.
A low snap forced the Cougar punter to bend down to catch the ball and his knee barely touched the ground, before he kicked a terrific punt.
However, the officials called the ball back to the point where the punter's knee touched the ground.
On the next play from scrimmage, Speedway ran the ball in for a score, and a 20-14 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The Cougars responded by driving the ball down the field, this time 74 yards and another Hunt to Adams pass for a 7-yard touchdown, and Dahlstrom's kick gave North Putnam the lead again at 21-20.
North Putnam's defense again rose to the occasion, stopping Speedway, but a questionable pass interference penalty gave the Sparkplugs a first down, instead of having to punt the ball back to the Cougars.
On the next play from scrimmage, Speedway scored a 45-yard touchdown on pass play, and a 21-26 lead over the Cougars.
The Sparkplugs next decision would play a major role in the outcome of the game as Speedway chose to attempt a successful 2-point conversion, which would be their final points of the game, and a 28-21 lead over the Cougars.
North Putnam roared back, driving the ball 69 yards down the field with Hunt scoring a 2-yard run with 1:12 left in the game.
Then came a decision that was being debated on the sideline, in the stands, and on the radio broadcast. Should the Cougars kick the extra point to tie the game and force overtime, or attempt a 2-point conversion to win the game?
After a timeout, North Putnam unsuccessfully attempted a pass play for 2-point conversion, ending the Cougars undefeated season, 28-27.
After the game ended, North Putnam head coach Greg Barrett explained the team's decision to go for the conversion and the win.
"Our team motto all year has been 'one heartbeat' and when you have your group of seniors come to you and tell you they want to go for the 2-point conversion for the win instead of kicking the extra point for a tie, you put your trust into them, and we thought we were going to get it, and I had all of the faith in the world that we were going to get it, "Barrett said.
"Our guys played great and they played hard. We didn't play as well as we would have liked to in the first half. It's what happens sometimes."
"It's not definitely the way these wanted seniors to go out because of the careers they've had."
"Football is a game of life and our guys will take this and learn from it. We don't just teach them football. Our guys understand that. We have a great group of 20 Seniors that I can't say enough about," Barrett concluded.
Dahlstrom gained 116 yards on 23 carries to lead the Cougars in rushing. Hunt followed with 32 yards on 14 carries, Darr Boruff had 27 on three carries, and Jerrett Ban had 24 yards on seven rushes.
As a team, North Putnam gained 187 rushing yards compared to Speedway's 47 yards on the ground.
Defensively, Dahlstrom led the Cougars with 11 tackles, followed by Vondersaar with five.
Vondersaar also blocked a Speedway punt, Ford and Adams each recovered a fumble, and Boruff had an interception.
This was the final football game for 20 Cougar Seniors.
At Speedway
North Putnam 0 7 7 13 -- 27
Speedway 0 12 8 8 -- 28
Second Quarter
Speedway -- West to Linville 20 pass (Walton kick) 8:33
Speedway -- Avance 2 run (run failed) 3:21
North Putnam -- Hunt 1 run (Dahlstrom kick) 0:14.8
Third Quarter
North Putnam -- Hunt to Adams 10 pass (Dahlstrom kick) 5:57
Speedway -- McGavoch 10 run (2 pt pass conversion) 2:48
Fourth Quarter
North Putnam -- Hunt to Adams 7 pass (Dahlstrom kick) 8:43
Speedway -- West to Linville 45 pass (2 pt run conversion) 6:34
North Putnam -- Hunt 2 run (pass failed) 1:12
TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs -- North Putnam (20), Speedway (9)
Punts-Yards -- North Putnam (1-33), Speedway (1-36)
Fumbles-Lost -- North Putnam (3-0), Speedway (1-0)
Penalties-Yards -- North Putnam (10-95), Speedway (3-35)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
North Putnam (10-1, 6-0 WCC):
Rushing -- (50 Carries, 187 yards) -- Dahlstrom 23-116, Hunt 14-32, Boruff 3-27, Diebold 2-0, Ban 7-24, Enders 1-(-12).
Passing -- (11-19-2-1, 132 yards) -- Hunt 11-19, 132 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT.
Receiving -- (11 catch, 132 yards) -- Dahlstrom 4-47, Diebold 1-13, Ban 4-55, Adams 2-17.
Total Offense -- (69 plays, 319 yards)
Speedway (8-3, 5-1 WCC):
Rushing -- (21 Carries, 49 yards) -- Linville 1-2, Law 1-(-1), Avance 3-6, Hubbard 9-20, West 4-0, McGavoch 3-22.
Passing -- (11-17-2-1, 184 yards) -- West 11-17, 184 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT.
Receiving -- (11 catches, 184 yards) -- Linville 4-112, Avance 1-1, Shaw 2-29, McGavoch 1-8, Faith 3-34.
Total Offense -- (38 plays, 233 yards)