Eagles run over and around Patriots, win 26-0

South Putnam senior Wes Riner breaks down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter at Owen Valley on Friday. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

SPENCER -- South Putnam coach Troy Burgess' words to his team after the game said it all.

"Not our prettiest, but it's a win," Burgess said.

While the Eagles opened with a 26-0 shutout of Owen Valley Friday night, there is definitely some work to do Monday, including taking care of 14 penalties for 90 yards and special teams play that lacked sharpness.

In several other important statistics, the Eagles were sharp, including 42 carries for 322 yards for the team, 8-of-10 passing for 89 yards from senior Sawyer Arnold and just 141 yards surrendered by the defense, including only nine on the ground.

That all added up to the most important stat of all -- one victory.

"It's always good to win," Burgess said. "Owen Valley's a much, much improved football team. They're going to win some ballgames."

Following a 1,600-yard sophomore campaign, Lucas Lorian got his junior year started right, opening the Eagle scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run with 3:58 remaining in the first quarter.

Wes Riner made perhaps the play of the night to open the second quarter when he found open space and dashed 61 yards for the second touchdown.

A clock-killing 77-yard drive put the Eagles in scoring position again late in the second quarter, but the drive stalled at the Owen Valley 15.

The defense answered the call, forcing a punt and setting the offense up in Owen Valley territory with 34 seconds remaining.

An Arnold 21-yard scramble and a Patriot pass interference set up the quarterback to find Jimmy Rutter for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Kicker Zane Yon's PAT made it 19-0 at the half.

The lone score of the second half came on a 57-yard scamper from Lorian.

The junior finished the night with 24 carries for 143 yards and two scores.

"People are going to key Lucas. You don't come back after 1,600 or 1,700 yards and people not key you," Burgess said. "Other guys have to step up. And guys did that tonight. Wes Riner -- get the ball to Wes out in space and he's pretty tough to defend.

"I thought Sawyer has really showed the maturity from a year ago. He made some great decisions," the coach added.

The defense was stellar all night. As impressive as 141 total yards is, the Patriots gained 73 of those on what looked to be their only scoring drive of the night.

But again, the Eagle defense stepped up, forcing plays for losses and benefiting from timely penalties, holding Owen Valley out of the end zone.

"We've got a lot of kids back on the defensive side of the ball, and coach (Nathan) Aker does a wonderful job," Burgess said.

The Eagles travel to Tri-West at 7 p.m. next Friday. The Bruins opened with a 26-15 loss to West Lafayette.

1st Quarter
SP: Lorian 9-yd run (Yon kick failed) 3:58

2nd Quarter
SP: Riner 61-yd run (Yon kick failed) 11:47
SP: Rutter 12-yd pass from Arnold (Yon kick) 0:12

3rd Quarter
SP: Lorian 57-yd run (Yon kick) 7:14

.............................SP........OV
First Downs..........14..........9
Fumbles-lost.......1-0.......1-0
Penalties-yards..14-90.....7-67

Offensive Statistics
South Putnam (1-0, 0-0 WCC):
Rushing (42 carries, 322 yards): Lorian 24-143, Riner 4-84, Arnold 4-44, Shaffer 3-37, Cutshaw 6-19, Waters 1-5, Grundlock 1-0
Passing (8-10, 89 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT): Arnold 8-10-1-0, 89 yards
Receiving: Yon 1-35, Rutter 2-26, Riner 1-10, Waters 1-10, Vittetow 2-5, Lorian 1-1

Owen Valley (0-1, 0-0 WIC):
Rushing (22 carries, 7 yards): Townsend 7-27, Hendershot 4-7, Sparks 2-1, Sims 2-1, Wood 3-(-13), King 3-(-13)
Passing (15-21, 132 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT): King 8-11-0-0, 67 yards; Wood 7-10-0-0, 65 yards
Receiving: Sparks 4-63, Daniel 2-25, Strong 2-14, Boyd 1-8, Shouse 2-7, Hendershot 2-7, Daffron 1-7, Townsend 1-0