Eagles get big win at home

Saturday, October 11, 2014

South Putnam's senior night was a celebration of not only the seniors of all sports and groups but all the levels of the Eagle football program as well, with middle school and elementary teams honored at halftime.

The hosts capped off their final home game of the season by forcing four fumbles and scoring 27 second-half points to knock of the Columbus Crusaders 34-6.

South Putnam head coach Nathan Aker said that despite injuries and missing players, the team came out ready and raring to go.

Zane Yon at the fullback position runs after catching a pass from Kyle Shaffer. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

"I love how we came out and battled," Aker said. "With the things we've been going through, they did a great job of stepping up and battling through adversity."

The Eagles got off to nearly a perfect start with quarterback Kyle Shaffer deliver what would have been a 75-yard touchdown pass to Zane Yon, only for the score to be undone by a penalty.

Aker said it was disappointing that Yon didn't get a touchdown but the play showed the versatility that the Eagles came into the game ready to show.

"We'd a loved to have that score but we had a boneheaded mistake during the play," Aker said. "It was a great catch-and-run and we wanted to get Zane on the board.

"The pass protection was good and Kyle threw a great ball. The kids just plug-and-play, whatever they have to do for the team and they continually do it well."

Instead, the hosts pounded the ball eight times before senior Lucas Lorian went around the left side of the line for a 13-yard score to put the hosts ahead 7-0.

The Crusaders, a collection of home school and smaller high school players, traveled five hours to arrive and showed that they were up for a fight all night.

Columbus fumbled on their next possession but stalled South Putnam out at the Crusader 11, halting Shaffer on a fourth-and-one attempt to prevent the Eagles from extending their lead.

The game soon turned into a defensive struggle as neither side made much headway before halftime.

Aker pointed out that the Crusaders began to take away certain parts of the field the Eagles wanted to attack.

"They did some things defensively that were trying to take away some of our strengths," Aker said. "You have the first play but you have to have the counter off of that.

"We had to throw our changeup pitch a little bit and maybe earlier than we expected to. Those guys did a great job after driving five hours to play and the came out and competed.

"Columbus has a good squad," Aker added. "They have some athletes out there and they were running around and getting after it."

With the elementary and middle school teams greeting the hosts as they left the field, Aker said the squad stayed up through halftime and came out firing in the second half.

"We hang our hat on our second half, maybe a little too much at times," Aker noted. "It does get frustrating for the coaches sometimes.

"Walking in at halftime, we see the youth league and the middle school players out there, high-fiving the guys. It really helped our attitude because it was all positive.

"We knew we were one block away, one correct pursuit angle away and we're right there," Aker added. "We capitalized on that in the third quarter."

South Putnam's defense got their offense in prime position to score to start the second half after forcing a fumble that Yon recovered on the Crusader one-yard line.

The turnover was the third the Eagles had forced and Aker said the defense enjoyed getting after the visitors.

"We emphasize getting to the football with a bad attitude, getting everybody to the football and trying to take it away," Aker said. "We've struggled with that at times this year and to see that tonight was a really good sign.

"We were having fun, flying around and taking the football away."

Columbus held out until fourth down but could not prevent Lorian from scoring for a second time, running around the right side of the line to double the Eagles' lead to 14-0.

After pinning the Crusaders deep in their own territory and having good starting position after a short punt, the hosts got a third score from Lorian on a 35-yard run to extend the lead to 21-0.

The visitors finally go on the board on their next possession after Tim Triplett hit Carl Jones on fourth-and-10 for a 30-yard score, cutting the lead to 21-6.

Shaffer showed off his arm on South Putnam's next possession, firing up a deep pass which Jimmy Rutter snagged for a 69-yard score to push the Eagle lead up to 27-6.

Eli Harris, a senior often seen on special teams, scored from 10 yards out to cap off the senior night with a bang for the home side.

Aker said the drive was special as all the seniors, bar the absent Oliviero Vurro, made the drive possible.

"We talk about together and doing it for your brother and those seniors do that," Aker said. "Sometimes it's tough when they're not getting the playing time.

"For a guy like Eli Harris to battle everyday like he does, whether it's in the weight room, the classroom, on and off the field, to get in the end zone on a 10-yard run, what a great way to cap off senior night.

"That offensive unit had every senior but Oliviero on it and they had a great drive," Aker added. "I'm very proud of the efforts of Scott Duggan, Dan Secrest, Zane Yon, Eli Harris, Chris Migliano, Josh Tubbs and Lucas Lorian."

With the win, the Eagles move to 4-4 on the season and have a chance to seal the WCC title with a win over Cascade next Friday.

Aker said that from top to bottom, the program was in a strong position and securing the last WCC title would be a fine finish to the regular season.

"We talked back in February, when I got the opportunity to be head coach, about 'Those who stay will be champions,' the old Michigan saying," Aker said. "They didn't all stay and it's a different room but I think it's a bigger room.

"I think we've got a lot of people on board with South Putnam football from the three youth league teams that plays tomorrow in their playoffs to the middle school team that finished with big wins over North Putnam recently.

"To win the last WCC title would be priceless," Aker added. "We've won it four times at South Putnam and we've had great teams here over the years, but for this team to get the fifth, and last one, is a great opportunity.

"Cascade is going to fight, with a good coaching staff and good team, and it's going to be a slugfest. We're going to have to buckle up and be ready.

"Championship week needs a championship effort and that began tonight."

At South Putnam

Columbus Crusaders 0 0 6 0 -- 6

South Putnam 7 0 20 7 -- 34

Scoring

1st Quarter

SP -- 3:57 Lorian 13-yard run (Yon kick) 7-0

3rd Quarter

SP -- 6:48 Lorian 1-yard run (Yon kick) 14-0

SP -- 4:40 Lorian 35-yard run (Yon kick) 21-0

CC -- 1:29 Jones 30-yard pass from Triplett (XP no good) 21-6

SP -- 0:00 Rutter 69-yard pass from Shaffer (XP blocked) 27-6

4th Quarter

SP -- 5:18 Harris 10-yard run (Yon kick) 34-6

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