WARR ACRES – Putnam City senior Brayden Knox made his presence felt Friday (Sept. 6) in the Pirates 43-0 rout of rival Putnam City West.

Knox had six tackles, five for loss from the defensive end position. He didn’t record a sack, but was constantly in the backfield for Putnam City.

“We try to run away from him. We try to run to him, it seemed like he just kept showing up,” Putnam City West coach Greg Johnson said of Knox. “He’s just like a man playing with boys.”

Fellow senior Cayden Hatlelid had five tackles, three for loss, two hurries and a 27-yard fumble return for a score.

Both junior DJ Ackerson and senior Elijah Asberry had four tackles. Ackerson had three for a loss and Asberry had two. Ackerson also had a sack.

Three other players got a sack, including senior Johnn Sheffey, junior Tripp Alexander and fellow junior Johnnie Efferson.

In total, the Pirates had 18 tackles for loss in the win.

LOMBARD, PC OFFENSE ROLLS

Junior quarterback Joshua Lombard was 8-of-14 for 142 yards and three touchdown passes.

Junior Visanio Boyd, Jr. had three catches for 28 yards. Senior Mykel Ford added three catches for 64 yards and a score. Senior Demarion Ridley caught two pass for 34 yards and a touchdown. Junior Savion James was held to one catch but it was a 25-yard touchdown reception.

On the ground, junior Rodgerick Sloan rushed 11 times for 61 yards. Senior Marqucio Woody added 50 yards on four carries with a score.

Knox, who is brought in at times to run the ball, had three carries for 10 yards and a touchdown run.

PIRATES PENALIZED

Penalties continued to be an issue. The Pirates lost 95 yards on nine penalties.

The infractions helped West across midfield in the second half before the defense forced a turnover.

PIRATES, PANTHERS WIN IN SPURTS

The Pirates meet Putnam City North Friday (Sept. 13) in the “Battle of the Expressway” at Pirate Stadium.

Since 2015, each team has had dueling winning streaks. From 2015-2017, Original won three straight. From 2018-2020, the Panthers had three straight victories. From 2021 through last year’s 56-20 Pirate win, Putnam City has won three straight overall.

Since the series began in 1982 (four years after North opened), the Panthers lead the series, 25-18.

North won nine straight from 1988-1996. PC’s longest winning streak in the series was four straight from 2005-2007. In 2007, the teams met in the first round of the playoffs as well as their regular season meeting.