Cougars show improvement in road loss to Mounties

Updated 8/30/22 to correct a change of scorer

NEW MARKET – There were many improvements by North Putnam's football team Friday, but it was still not enough, as the Cougars dropped a 42-21 decision to Southmont.

The loss drops NP to 0-2, while the Mounties move to 2-0.

“We made improvements in many areas,” Cougars coach Scott Moore said. “We were better in our protections many times, and we slowed down Southmont's run game, but we had some mental errors along with some missed assignments. I'm very happy with how hard we played. We went toe-to-toe with a very good football team. Southmont is strong and physical. I'm not happy with losing – I hurt for the kids, but we all have to trust the process. We know we can be better, and we will get better.”

The Cougars challenged the usually run-heavy Mounties top throw the ball and throw the home team did.

Quarterback Nick Scott threw for 259 yards after throwing for only 47 in week one.

“The passing game was what North Put gave us,” Mounties coach Desson Hannum said. “They had eight in the box, and we had to throw. We got good protection, we had guys run good routes and get open, and Nick threw the ball well. I've coached against both Coach Moore's over the years and know to expect the unexpected.”

With the win, Hannum reaches 70, which ties him for first all-time at Southmont.

Christian Kramer, the Cougars freshman quarterback, had a solid night, going 14-of-21 for 232 yards and one TD. He had 230 yards and four interceptions week one against North Montgomery.

“Things are starting to click for him,” Moore said. “He is seeing what the coaches are seeing and showing him. He is becoming the leader a quarterback has to be. We also had so start another freshman, Wesley Murphy, at wide receiver, and both the freshmen played well.”

Kramer completed eight of his first nine passes in the first quarter as the Cougars matched a Southmont early score.

A 17-play, 65 yard drive was capped by a Noah Claycomb 6-yard run.

Claycomb would go on to score another rushing touchdown on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter while Myles Bryan scored on a 77-yard pitch and run late in the second quarter.

Claycomb would also finish with 82 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Scott was 11-of-16 passing, and had two scores, plus added a rushing TD.

Wyatt Woodall was the offensive leader for Southmont, as the junior had four touchdowns.

He had three rushing and one receiving, running for 90 yards on 18 carries, and had three catches for 75 yards and the score. Carson Chadd had three catches for 79 yards and a score and had 39 yards on the ground.

“We got Claycomb some good holes to run through,” Moore said, “and we protected Kramer well until late. We made some mental mistakes and had some execution errors, but we played hard. We will continue to try and make those strides of improvement and just go compete. We have a tough conference game next week. South Putnam has won a lot of games over the last couple years.”

The Cougars travel to play the Eagles next Friday.

North Putnam 7 7 0 7 - 21

Southmont 7 14 14 7 - 42

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

SM Scott 34 yd pass to Chadd (Ward kick) 6:50

NP Claycomb 2 yd run (Polley kick) :27.8

Second Quarter

SM Woodall 6 yd run (Ward kick) 4:19

SM Woodall 3 yd run (Ward kick) 2:14

NP C. Kramer 77 yd pass to M. Bryan (Polley kick) 1:58

Third Quarter

SM Woodall 5 yd run (Ward kick) 7:04

SM Scott 7 yd run (Ward kick) 2:29

Fourth Quarter

SM Scott 36 yd pass to Woodall (Ward kick) 10:15

NP Claycomb 5 yd run (Polley kick) 9:32

Statistics

Individual Statistics

Rushing

NP: Claycomb 25-82 2TD, Kramer 9 (-32)

SM: Woodall 18-90 3TD, Chadd 8-39, Scott 8-7 TD, Line 3 (-6).

Passing

NP: C.Kramer 14-21-230 TD

SM: Scott 11-16-259 2TD

Receiving

NP: A. Kramer 5-42, Bryan 3-137 TD, Murphy 3-39, Claycomb 1-17, O'Brien 1-8, C.Kramer 1 (-1).

SM: Chadd 3-79 TD, Woodall 3-75 TD, Tolliver 2-46, McCandless 1-37, Brewer 1-12, Line 1-10.