Vikings score early, often in win over Eagles

South Putnam and West Vigo both started Friday night with three-game losing streaks and looking for an elusive victory in the tough WIC West Division. South Putnam now had a four-game losing heading into next week’s long ride to Sullivan.

Two turnovers and a big mistake in the opening quarter led to a 22-0 deficit and to a 44-8 West Vigo victory on Mark Wildman Field.

Before sophomore quarterback Riley Stone and Kain Gregory hooked up for a 34-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, West Vigo had a 44-2 lead.

Stone came off the South Putnam bench in the second quarter to complete 9-of-21 passes for 119 yards and one interception and one touchdown.

Stone, who targeted Steven Schnepp several times and completed four passes for 41 yards to the junior, found Gregory for a 30-yard gain that set up the 34-yard touchdown pass on the Eagles’ last possession of the night.

South Putnam managed just 175 yards of total offense for the night. Defensively, the Eagles allowed only 223 yards to West Vigo, but the three turnovers and fumbles (even ones recovered) hurt the offense.

The Eagles scored with just 1:28 left in the game, showing that they never gave up. Their best possession of the night came after they fell behind 36-0 at halftime.

Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Eagles built some momentum with a 12-play, 58-yard drive. Stone and Schnepp hooked up for a 10-yard gain and first down. The always reliable Dalton Scott rushed for eight yards and Stone went back to Schnepp for a huge 32-yard pass play to the West Vigo 20.

Three runs by Scott and another by Connor Cain gave the Eagles first-and-goal from the West Vigo 8-yard line. An incomplete pass, a three-yard loss on a pass play and another incomplete pass ended the drive.

South Putnam’s defense rose to the challenge. The Eagles forced the Vikings into a three-and-out series and a punt. A whole flock of Eagles broke through to block the punt of the end zone for a two-point safety -- and possession of the ball and the momentum.

While South Putnam’s offense didn’t score, the defense kept West Vigo out of the end zone. The Vikings’ only points in the period came off a safety when the center snap sailed over the punter and out of the end zone. Still, West Vigo led 44-2 going into the final quarter.

With 5:10 to play, South Putnam got one more shot at the end zone. Stone ran for three yards, found Kain for a 30-yard pass, Scott on an 11-yard pass and finally Gregory for the 34-yard score.

WV -- Jarrett Sholar 3 run (West Vigo run), 8-0, 5:25 Q1.

WV -- Kyle McCalister 1 run (pass failed), 22-0, 0:00 Q1.

WV -- Sholar 73 interception return (kick failed), 28-0, 6:04 Q2.

WV — Berkley 6 run (Barkley from Andrews), 36-0, :34 Q2.

SP — Safety, blocked West Vigo punt in end zone, 36-2, 5:10 Q3.

WV — Safety, center snap over punter into end zone, 38-2, :29 Q3.

WV -- Braden Hamrick 1 run (kick blocked), 44-2, 8:42, Q4.

SP -- Kain Gregory 34 pass from Riley Stone, 44-8, 1:28, Q4.

Next game – Next Friday, South Putnam (2-4, 0-3 in WIC West) travels to Sullivan (4-2, 1-2 in WIC West). West Vigo (2-4, 1-2 in WIC West) plays at North Putnam.

(4-2, 1-2 in WIC West).