South Putnam earns share of WIC Small School Division with West Vigo win

Sunday, September 25, 2022

WEST TERRE HAUTE – It wasn’t as smooth as some games this season but when South Putnam was flowing, it was too much for West Vigo to handle Friday night.

The Eagles were behind the Vikings for all of 63 seconds in the first quarter before scoring twice in just over three minutes and hitting another quickfire double score in just under four minutes during the third quarter to take home a 40-8 win.

As a result, the Eagles have clinched at a minimum a share of the WIC Small School Division football title and, with a win against Brown County, would claim the title outright for a third-straight year.

South Putnam struck first, despite a penally that made it first-and-29 at one point, using a 45-yard connection from Wyatt Mullin to Wyatt Switzer to minimize the damage before Luke Switzer finished off the seven-play drive with a four-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

West Vigo clawed back, picking up three quick first downs before the Eagle defense got a tackle for loss and an incompletion that set up fourth-and-12.

Viking quarterback Kaleb Marrs was able to find Preston Montgomery on the run for a 34-yard score, following it up with a conversion pass to Rhyan Shaffer, giving the hosts an 8-7 lead.

The Eagles punched back quickly, getting a pair of first downs before Mullin hit Fisher Jones just over the outstretched hands of a defender for a 30-yard score to retake the lead at 14-8.

West Vigo managed a first down on the next series but two incompletions led to a punt and, on the next snap, Luke Switzer, seemingly bottled up, was patient enough to find a hole and ran for a 70-yard score to make it 21-8 with 3:02 left in the opening quarter.

South Putnam would force a three-and-out but a penalty undid the drive just after the start of the second quarter.

The hosts, with a short field, picked up a trio of first downs to reach the red zone, only for a set of penalties to halt any momentum.

More penalties kept the Eagles from doing much on the following series as conditions began to deteriorate due to rain in the area.

The Vikings began to drive, aided by a pair of penalties from the Eagles, but on fourth-and-two at the South Putnam 24-yard line, the Eagle defense stripped Marrs and recovered the fumble.

A trade of punts left South Putnam with 23 seconds and the ball at its own 19-yard line.

Peyton Crickmore got the ball twice, once for 14 yards and the second for 67 yards on a jet sweep to give the Eagles a 28-8 lead at the break.

West Vigo started the second half by turning the ball over on downs twice around a South Putnam fumble.

The Eagles made better use of the second possession of the half as Luke Switzer hammered away for 55 yards on five plays, finishing the drive off with a five-yard score to make if 34-8.

The eldest Switzer finished off the scoring on the next possession, finding a gap and galloping 59 yards for a score to make it 40-8.

A fumble on the next play set the visitors up at the Viking 11-yard line but a penalty and three negative plays in a row saw the hosts rake over on downs.

West Vigo would go on a lengthy drive for the bulk of the final quarter, picking up four first downs but, ultimately, the South Putnam defense stiffened and shut the door on fourth-and-four from the 27-yard line in the final seconds.

The Eagles will host Brown County for a chance to win the WIC Small School Division outright on Friday.

South Putnam21712040
West Vigo80008

Scoring

First Quarter

SP — L. Switzer 4-yard run (Kendall kick) 10:30 0-7

WV — Montgomery 34-yard pass from Marrs (Shaffer pass from Marrs) 7:29 8-7

SP — Jones 30-yard pass from Mullin (Kendall kick) 6:26 8-14

SP — L. Switzer 70-yard run (Kendall kick) 3:02 8-21

2nd Quarter

SP — Crickmore 67-yard run (Kendall kick) :04.5 8-28

3rd Quarter

SP — L. Switzer 5-yard run (XP failed) 4:20 8-34

SP — L. Switzer 59-yard run (XP blocked) :38.4 8-40

Statistics

South PutnamWest Vigo
Total Offense42-47873-268
Rushing369191
Passing10977
1st downs1715
4th Downs0-21-6
Turnovers12
Penalties12-997-56

Individual Statistics

Rushing

South Putnam — 32-369, 4 TD —L. Switzer 16-202, 3 TD; Crickmore 12-162, TD; Mullin 4-1.

West Vigo — 55-191 — Brock Higgins 18-75; Marrs 13-65; Shaffer 12-20; Dewey 5-15; Cobb 4-15; Roach 1-0.

Passing

South Putnam — Mullin 6-10-109, TD

West Vigo — Marrs 7-17-75, TD; Shaffer 0-1-0

Receiving

South Putnam — Dorsett 2-28; W. Switzer 1-45; Jones 1-30, TD; L. Switzer 1-8, Hill 1-(-2)

West Vigo — Roach 4-25; Montgomery 1-34, TD; Higgins 1-16; Shaffer 1-2

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