Lutheran shows championship pedigree in romp over South Putnam

Several South Putnam defenders, led by Braden Staley (left) are required to knock an Indianapolis Lutheran receiver out of bounds during Friday's 42-0 loss to the defending Class A state champions.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

INDIANAPOLIS — The second of South Putnam’s battles against No. 1 teams, traveling to Indianapolis Lutheran in the opening round of IHSAA Football Class A Sectional No. 47 play, was every bit, if not more, difficult than the first a week ago against Linton.

Once Jackson Willis got going, there was little slowing down the Saints as the sophomore was 15-of-19 for 264 yards and four touchdowns as the hosts rolled the Eagles 42-0.

“We had to play flawless football,” South Putnam head coach Chuck Sorrell said. “Not blow coverages, not kick ourselves and beat ourselves.

“I’m not saying we beat ourselves all night because (Lutheran) is a better team than us but it should not have been 42-0. Against good teams, you can’t make those little mistakes.

“You have to do your job and that’s why it’s in the scouting report,” Sorrell added. “We just all didn’t do our job.”

After a pair of punts and a South Putnam turnover on downs, Willis got the ball rolling with a 64-yard pass to Micah Mackay for a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Mackay would get a second lengthy score to start the second quarter, taking a Willis swing pass 59 yards to double the lead to 14-0.

The Eagles found ways to move the ball briefly against a stingy Lutheran defense but couldn’t make drives stick.

An interception from Wyatt Mullin to Willis helped set the Saints up for two late scores as Willis hit Cur-Brian Shelby five plays later for a 23-yard score and, after another failed fourth down from the visitors, Willis connected with Devuan Jones on fourth-and-eight for an 18-yard score that made it 28-0 at halftime.

A pair of unsportsmanlike penalties against South Putnam helped Lutheran put the clock on auto pilot after Joe Davis scored from 17 yards out to make it 35-0.

Davis would find his way in the end zone one more time early in the fourth quarter, converting a fourth-and-one with a five-yard touchdown run to finish the scoring.

South Putnam finishes the season 9-3, winning the WIC Small School Division title.

“On (Monday) we’ll come back and start getting ready for the 2023 football season,” Sorrell said. “The ultimate goal is to get our team to a point where we can beat a team like Lutheran.

“It’s the ultimate goal and it will be the ultimate goal for this program because (Lutheran) is the state standard. They’ve lost one time in the last three years.”

Scoring

1st Quarter

L — Mackay 64-yard pass from Willis (Miller kick) 4:42 7-0

2nd Quarter

L — Mackay 59-yard pass from Willis (Miller kick) 11:28 14-0

L — Shelby 23-yard pass from Willis (Miller kick) 3:12 21-0

L — Jones 18-yard pass from Willis (Miller kick) :35 28-0

3rd Quarter

L — Davis 17-yard run (Miller kick) 9:02 35-0

4th Quarter

L — Davis 5-yard run (Miller kick) 9:24 42-0

Statistics

Individual Statistics

Rushing

South Putnam — 29-85 — L. Switzer 21-58; Mullin 6-19; Crickmore 1-10; Childress 1-(-2)

Lutheran — 22-83, 2 TD — Davis 16-82, 2 TD; Snow 2-11; Shelby 1-8; Jones 1-0; Willis 1-(-3); Shrum 1-(-15)

Passing

South Putnam — Mullin 11-27-78, INT

Lutheran — Willis 15-19-264, 4 TD

Receiving

South Putnam — L. Switzer 4-39; W. Switzer 2-21; Childress 2-11; Crickmore 1-8; C. Switzer 1-(-1)

Lutheran — Mackay 5-164, 2 TD; Jones 4-28, TD; Shelby 3-50, TD; Davis 2-17; King 1-5