North Putnam withstands rain, outlasts Mustangs

ELLETTSVILLE -- The North Putnam Cougars football team, ranked 10th in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 2A poll, opened the 2009 season by traveling to Edgewood to play the Class 3A 12th ranked Mustangs Friday night.

The Cougars knew entering the game they would have a tough job on their hands, having lost 20 seniors from last year's team.

However, North Putnam overpowered Edgewood in every aspect of the game, earning their first victory of the season, 14-6.

In the first quarter, the Cougars moved the ball 80 yards down the field on their second possession of the game, with rushes by Kolten Everts, a 56-yard pass play from Everts to Travis Franklin, and capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown run by Shawn Diebold with 5:36 showing on the clock.

An extra point kick by Hunter Logan gave North Putnam a 7-0 lead, one that they never relinquished during the rest of the game.

The Cougars were stalled on their next drive, and a snap over the punter's head allowed Edgewood to get the ball on the North Putnam seven yard line.

Three plays later, the Mustangs scored their only points of the night on a three-yard run with 0:00 showing on the clock. Their kicker missed the extra point attempt, and the Cougars took a 7-6 lead into the second quarter.

North Putnam was able to continue to move the ball in the second quarter, and the Cougar defense held Edgewood to 11 yards in total offense in the period.

During the final 1:01 of the first half, the Cougars again drove the ball down the field with another big pass play from Everts to Franklin, this time for 43 yards, and another one from Everts to Darr Boruff for five yards.

Everts and Hank Spencer finished the scoring drive with runs of one-yard each, Spencer's for a touchdown with 0:00 showing on the clock.

Logan's extra point kick would be the final point scored in the game.

Statistically, North Putnam gained 198 in total offense, while the Cougars' defense limited the Mustangs to 32 yards in total offense in the first half.

During halftime it started to rain heavily, and North Putnam's running game and their defense would control the rest of the game.

Diebold, Everts, Spencer, and Boruff were able to grind-out yardage on the ground in the second half, while the North Putnam defense continued to limit Edgewood's offense, as it had done so well in the first half.

North Putnam earned the win with a team victory, controlling Edgewood in every aspect of the game, in a very lopsided statistical victory that was not evident in the final score.

The Cougars generated 249 in total offense, while their defense limited the Mustangs to only 74 yards, and North Putnam forced Edgewood to punt the ball eight times.

"This was a terrific team win for us tonight, "North Putnam head coach Greg Barrett said after the game.

"Special teams, defense, and offense all played well."

"Our passing game was really working well for us in the first half, and our running game was great in the second half."

"It was really exciting to see everyone step-up. In a rainy game like this, it's very important for our running backs and our line to play well, and they did."

"It was definitely a team effort," Barrett concluded.

Spencer gained 50 yards on 13 carries to lead the Cougars in rushing. Everts followed with 47 yards on 15 carries, and Boruff had 18 on six rushes.

As a team, North Putnam gained 98 rushing yards compared to Edgewood's 40 yards on the ground.

The Cougars were 6-for-9 through the air for 151 yards. Quarterback Everts hit Franklin with three passes for 135 yards, and Kyle Adams caught a pass of 18 yards.

North Putnam passed for 151 yards compared to Edgewood's 34 yards.

Defensively, Nate Bryan led the Cougars with nine tackles and a quarterback sack, followed by Spencer with eight, Boruff had five, and Jordon Murphy, Franklin, and Aaron Vondersaar had four tackles each.

The Cougars (1-0, 0-0 WCC) host Southmont Friday night in their first home game of the season. The game begins at 7:00 p.m.

At Edgewood

North Putnam 7 7 0 0 -- 14

Edgewood 6 0 0 0 -- 6

First Quarter

North Putnam -- Diebold 6 run (Logan kick) 5:36

Edgewood -- Delos Santos 3 run (kick failed) 0:00

Second Quarter

North Putnam -- Spencer 1 run (Logan kick) 0:00

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs -- North Putnam (11), Edgewood (4)

Punts -- North Putnam (3-129), Edgewood (8-265)

Fumbles -- North Putnam (4-2), Edgewood (1-0)

Penalties -- North Putnam (5-30), Edgewood (2-20)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

North Putnam (1-0, 0-0 WCC)

Rushing -- (44 carries, 98 yards) -- Everts 15-47, Spencer 13-50, Boruff 6-18, Jones 1-(-31), Diebold 8-12, Murphy 1-2.

Passing -- (6-9-0-0, 151 yards) -- Everts 6-9, 151 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT.

Receiving -- (6 catches, 151 yards) -- Adams 1-18, Boruff 2-(-2), Franklin 3-135.

Total Offense -- (53 plays, 249 yards)

Edgewood (0-1, 0-0 WIC)

Rushing -- (27 carries, 40 yards) -- Cross 4-(-2), Williams 10-27, Delos Santos 8-29, Pederson 4-(-16), Ferguson 1-2.

Passing -- (9-14-0-0, 34 yards) -- Cross 1-3, (-2) yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, Pederson 8-11, 36 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT.

Receiving -- (9 catches, 34 yards) -- Williams 3-3, Mabry 3-5, Ridge 3-26.

Total Offense -- (41 plays, 74 yards)

Next Game -- The Cougars (1-0, 0-0 WCC) host Southmont Friday night in their first home game of the season. The game begins at 7:00 p.m