Mullin's five touchdowns help Eagles glide past Patriots

Wyatt Mullin was in on five touchdowns, three throwing, one running and an interception return for a score and the South Putnam defense was also special, only allowing 75 yards of offense, as the Eagles pulled away to a 46-6 victory at Wildman Field Friday night over the Owen Valley Patriots.

Things started slowly early on as both defenses were stout at the onset. The Eagles broke through with 4:36 left in the opening quarter when Mullin hit Zach Dorsett in stride and rumbled 73 yards for the opening score of the game. Wyatt Kendall added the extra point to make it 7-0.

After a quick three and out by the defense, the Eagles went back to air. Mullin hit Drew Hill for 25 yards and two plays later found Wyatt Switzer from 23 yards out for the game’s second tally. Kendall again added the point after to make it 14-0.

The Eagles then would take advantage of an error by the Patriot return team as the returner downed the ball at the two-yard line. A false start by Owen Valley inched them closer to the goal line. On the next play the defense swarmed the running back in the end zone for a safety.

South Putnam got the ball back in excellent field position after the free kick. The running game then began to open up as Kolby Harcourt carried the load. The drive would stall deep in Patriot territory, but Kendall would add a 28-yard field goal to increase the margin early in the second.

The Patriots seemed to be getting something together on the next possession, getting to the Eagle 20. Kyvan Bandy broke free for a 20-yard scoring run, but it was called back because of a holding call and the South defense stiffened, forcing the Patriots out of scoring range and taking over on their own 12.

Four Harcourt runs later, the hosts were out of the danger zone. Mullin then kept it and ran around the right side, racing 59 yards for another score to make it 29-0.

“We have a special quarterback. We can call run plays for him, we can call pass plays for him. He gets us in the right positions,” Eagle coach Chuck Sorrell said about Mullin.

The Eagle defense was again stalwart and forced another punt to get the ball back before halftime. With just 35 seconds left, Mullin found Bransyn Ensor in the end zone from 34 yards out for yet another score to make it 33-0 at the half.

South started with possession in the second half but was unable to move it. A sack by Aiden Beadles forced a third-and-11 and as the Patriots tried to go to the air, Mullin stepped in front of the receiver and dashed 39 yards down the sideline to extend their lead and kick in the running clock rule.

After the Patriots were stymied on a fourth down, South went to its bench and was able to add one more score in the final period.

Freshman Drew Cline finished it off with a one-yard run, with Kendall again adding the extra point to make it 46-0. The Patriots added a late score as Elijah Anderson hit Brayden Phillippe for their lone score to make a 46-6 dominating performance by the Eagles.

“I’ve been preaching that this may be the best defense I’ve had. When we are in our seven-man front we are hard to run on and also our six man front where we can still stop the run but cover things up,” Sorrell said.

The Eagles move to 2-0 on the season. Mullin was 5-of-8 passing for 152 yards and three scores. He also ran for 78 yards with Harcourt adding 74. The stout defense gave up just 11 yards on the ground and 75 total yards from scrimmage.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

4:36 (SP) Mullin 73 pass to Dorsett (Kendall kick)

2:01 (SP) Mullin 23 pass to W. Switzer (Kendall kick)

1:52 (SP) Defense safety

2nd Quarter

11:48 (SP) Kendall 28yd FG

2:27 (SP) Mullin 59 run (Kendall kick)

:35 (SP) Mullin 34 pass to Ensor (Kendall kick)

3rd Quarter

8:19 (SP) Mullin 39 INT return (run failed)

4th Quarter

6:47 (SP) Cline 1 run (Kendall kick)

1:52 (OV) Anderson 30 pass to Phillipe (run failed)

TEAM STATS

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Rushing - (SP) Mullin 7-78, Harcourt 19-74, R. Speth 3-12, W. Speth 2-9, Cline 1-1; (OV) Bandy 12-26, Wheeler 4-9, Anderson 12-(-16), Harden 1-(-4)

Passing - (SP) Mullin 5-8-152-3-0, Cline 1-1-12-0-0; (OV) Anderson 7-15-64-1-1

Receiving - (SP) Hill 3-45, Dorsett 1-73, W. Switzer 1-23, Bransyn Ensor 1-34, Witt 1-12; (OV) Harden 2-8, Dean 3-15, Manual 1-8, Phillipe 2-43