Eagles raze the red turf, Mustangs in bounce-back win

ELLETTSVILLE – South Putnam traveled to the red turf of Edgewood on Friday night and made big play after big play in a high school football game.

The Eagles scored eight touchdowns, seven of them on plays 35 yards or longer. The Class A No. 6 Eagles did all this with their top three wideouts missing from the lineup and didn’t seem to miss a beat as they picked up the win 56-13.

Wyatt Mullin had three touchdown passes and two rushing scores. Zach Dorsett had two touchdown receptions and freshman Bransyn Hanley had four touchdowns, two receiving and two on kickoff returns, the only plays Hanley touched the ball all night.

The big victory boosted the Eagles to 4-1 on the season, while the Mustangs dropped to 1-4.

“It’s a bounce back game for us. Greencastle got to us last week and we had some injuries tonight for kids that started for us. We started five freshmen and our scouting report was ‘do your job’ and the next one was ‘next man up.’ That is what we did,” South Putnam head coach Chuck Sorrell said.

The Eagles controlled the game from the outset. South forced a three-and-out and then drove 61 yards in 12 plays, converting two fourth downs, to score on a Mullin to Dorsett nine-yard pass to go up early 7-0.

South Putnam forced another three-and-out and did not waste much time as the Mullin to Dorsett combination worked again, the junior tandem hooking up from 35 yards out and boosting the lead to 14-0.

The big plays just kept getting bigger. After holding the Mustangs again, the Eagles picked up the first of three 80-plus yard plays.

Mullin kept the ball on a quarterback keeper and raced 80 yards down the right sideline to give South a comfortable 21-0 lead late in the first quarter.

“We made some plays tonight, we did a lot of things we wanted to do,” Sorrell said.

South’s Drew Cline intercepted a Mustang pass on the next possession, but the Eagles gave it back on a fumble. The dominant Eagle defense held again but for only the second time they were stopped as Wyatt Kendall’s 42-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked.

The Eagle defense kept rising to the occasion. This time, Caden Switzer picked off a Mustang pass, setting up the Eagles at the Mustang 21-yard line. Two plays later, Mullin scored from 16 yards away and boosted the lead to 28-0.

On the next possession, Edgewood faced a fourth-and-four from its own 31-yard line and curiously tried a fake punt which was snuffed out as the Eagles took over on the 25-yard line. Following a holding call that moved the Eagles back, Mullin hit Hanley over the top of the defense for 35-yard score with just :15 left in the first half, prompting the second half to have the running clock.

If there was any doubt about the Eagles putting this game away, Hanley effectively shut the door as he took the second half kickoff and raced 88 yards for a touchdown and a 42-0 lead.

“Our freshmen really stepped up. Blake Witt played well, Drew (Cline) had our first interception and even though he has been starting for us, Bransyn (Hanley) was really good,” Sorrell said.

South began subbing in the fourth quarter and immediately Hanley helped Cline by taking a freshman-to-freshman pass and racing 55 yards for the score boosting the lead to 49-0.’

Edgewood took advantage of the Eagles subbing in and drove 59 yards to score on a Michael Law 16-yard pass to avoid the shutout.

Hanley showcased his speed again as the Mustangs inexplicably kicked to him again, this time sprinting 84 yards for the touchdown and the 56-7 lead.

Edgewood would get one more score late as Law had 87 yards on two carries, the second run a touchdown from 27 yards out to set the final score at 56-13.

The South Putnam defense was as impressive as the big play offense. The Eagles allowed only 30 yards and two first downs in the first half. The Mustangs did not reach Eagle territory until the third quarter of the contest.

“Our defense was flying around and playing good football. We have to work with our junior varsity on big plays. They gave up a couple of big plays, but overall, we were good on that side of the ball,” Sorrell said.

The Eagles will host West Vigo next week as they get back to the Green Division of Western Indiana Conference football.

1st Quarter

SP – Zach Dorsett 9 pass from Wyatt Mullin (Wyatt Kendall kick), 7-0, 6:38.

SP – Zach Dorsett 35 pass from Wyatt Mullin (Wyatt Kendall kick), 14-0, 3:28.

SP – Wyatt Mullin 80 run (Wyatt Kendall kick), 21-0, :14.

2nd Quarter

SP – Wyatt Mullin 16 run (Wyatt Kendall kick), 28-0, 3:02.

SP – Bransyn Hanley 35 pass from Wyatt Mullin (Wyatt Kendall kick), 35-0, :15.

3rd Quarter

SP – Bransyn Hanley 88 kickoff return (Wyatt Kendall), 42-0, 11:41.

4th Quarter

SP – Bransyn Hanley 55 pass from Drew Cline (Wyatt Kendall kick), 49-0, 9:26.

EHS – Michael Law 16 run (Gunner Caswell kick), 49-7, 3:21.

SP – Bransyn Hanley 84 kickoff return (Wyatt Kendall kick), 56-7, 2:32.

EHS – Michael Law 27 run (kick failed), 56-13, :49.

Individual Statistics

Rushing: South Putnam: Wyatt Mullin 7-140, Kolby Harcourt 15-77, Blake Witt 1-0, Drew Cline 1-(-3). Edgewood: Michael Law 7-80, Gabe Drew 14-10.

Passing: South Putnam: Wyatt Mullin 7-14-1 124, Drew Cline 1-1-0 55. Edgewood: Michael Law 11-21-2 57.

Receiving: South Putnam: Zach Dorsett 5-80, Bransyn Hanley 2-90, Blake Witt 1-9. Edgewood: Gabe Drew 3-20, Jaxton Collier 4-16, Blake Baker 1-5, Gunnar Perry 1-2, Christian Couch 2-14.