West Vigo uses big plays to defeat Cougars, 52-21

BAINBRIDGE – Big plays cost North Putnam on Friday night in a Western Indiana Conference “Green Division” football game with West Vigo, as the Vikings had three scoring plays from 60 yards or more in a 52-21 win over the Cougars.

West Vigo improved to 5-2 overall with the win and stands 3-1 in the WIC. The Vikings can clinch second place with a win over Cloverdale on Friday.

North Putnam fell to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the WIC. The Cougars are in fourth place, and will close out the regular season with a road game against Brown County and a home game with Greencastle.

West Vigo’s Ethan Wyrick put his team ahead to stay midway through the first quarter by recovering a Cougar fumble in the end zone.

The Cougars answered quickly as Gabe Garcia returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a game-tying touchdown.

West Vigo added a pair of scores in the final 4:05 of the first quarter, as backup quarterback Kaleb Marrs hit Shea Andrews on a 23-yard TD pass and connected with Zander Wilbur on a 35-yarder to put the Vikings up 19-7 at the first break.

The Vikings got the only score of the second quarter as Marrs hit DeShaun Lowe with a 31-yard score – one of three other West Vigo scores of 30 yards or more – and a 26-7 halftime lead.

Lowe returned the second-half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown after taking a reverse handoff for a 32-7 lead.

North Putnam cut into the Viking lead a few minutes later as quarterback Gunner Burress scored on a 9-yard run to make the deficit 32-14.

Marrs connected with Lowe on a 60-yard TD 20 seconds later, but Burress answered again with an 8-yard TD run.

Marrs closed out the third period scoring with a 5-yard quarterback keeper with 10 seconds left, and West Vigo led 45-21 entering the final stanza.

The Vikings got their final score on a 35-yard interception return by Jarrell Sholer with 4:46 left in the game.

First quarter

WV — Wyrick recovered North Putnam fumble in end zone (Shaffer kick), 5:29.

NP — Garcia 90 kickoff return (Polley kick), 5:16.

WV — Andrews 23 pass from Marrs (kick failed), 4:05.

WV — Wilbur 35 pass from Marrs (pass failed), 2:45.

Second quarter

WV — Lowe 31 pass from Marrs (kick failed), 7:17.

Third quarter

WV — Lowe 80 kickoff return (kick blocked), 11:45.

NP — Burress 9 run (Polley kick), 6:28.

WV — Lowe 60 pass from Marrs (Blevins pass from Marrs), 6:08.

NP — Burress 8 run (Polley kick), 3:15.

WV — Marrs 5 run (kick failed), 0:10.

Fourth quarter

WV — Sholar 35 interception return (Shaffer kick), 4:46.

Next — West Vigo (5-2 overall, 3-1 WIC) will be at home next Friday to face Cloverdale. North Putnam (1-6, 1-2) will visit Brown County that same night.