WARR ACRES – After Putnam City’s 21-7 win over rival Putnam City North Friday (Sept. 13), Pirate coach Willis Alexander gathered his defense together. It was a televised game and he knew a player-of-the-game spotlight was coming.

Alexander pointed to his defenders and told anyone that would listen, “There’s your players of the game.”

Original’s defense made key stops, got turnovers (even scored on one) and the Pirates won the “Battle of the Expressway” for the fourth straight season.

“They played really well. They’ve played well all year.” Alexander said. “We had some hiccups, early on and all that, but you know, that’s going to happen. These are still 14, 15, 16, 17 year-old kids. But, they have a confidence about them.”

North (1-1) struggled with field position and in the kicking game early in the contest.

After the Pirate defense force a three-and-out, a short punt gave Putnam City the ball at the North 32-yard line. Original scored on an eight-play drive. Senior Brayden Knox, a defensive standout, scored in his part-time role as a short-yardage back. Knox punched it in from seven yards out with 7:58 left in the first quarter.

For the next several possessions, neither team could get traction. North lost a fumble, but the ball stayed on the North side of the field.

North finally got near midfield with 10:36 left in the second quarter but had to punt. The Pirates mounted an 11-play drive but also had to punt.

Senior Jayden Henson’s punt pinned the Panthers at the their own 3-yard line. After two handoffs to North senior Milton Alford failed to get the Panthers out of the shadow of the own end zone, the Pirate defense got a big play.

North junior quarterback Mason Jones lofted a ball towards senior JaKorey Locke. It sailed over his hands and into the hands of Pirate senior Elijah Asberry, who sprinted into the end zone untouched to make it 14-0 with 4:28 before halftime.

Neither team would score until the final period.

The Panthers finally got a drive going late in the third quarter. A screen pass from Jones to Alfred, coupled with a Pirate penalty got North inside Putnam City territory. Alfred gained yardage in chunks, sometimes carrying players and keeping his legs moving.

A direct snap to senior Kameron Oliver got North on the board with a four-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Putnam City (2-1) didn’t wait long to answer. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Putnam City quarter Josh Lombard (who transferred from North after last season), found junior Savion James.

James caught Lombard’s pass at the hash mark at the 32. He spun around the tackle of North sophomore Jonnas Stinson-Powers and sprinted to the end zone for a 75-yard score to make it 21-7.

North mounted one more lengthy drive, getting inside the Pirate 20-yard line but Jones missed on three passes. Knox hit Lombard on one of the misses and Knox had a sack and the drive fizzled.

“(Knox) just plays with so much tenacity and just so much effort,” Alexander said. “You know, uh, all gas, no brakes.”

PANTHER DEFENSE KEEPS NORTH CLOSE

Despite the field position disparity early in the contest, North coach Derek Lane was happy with team and particularly his defense.

Putnam City’s offense had seven series in the first half but only scored on the first series.

“We gave up a few, a few plays, but for the most part, guys were swarming to the football,” Lane said. “They did a pretty good job of stopping the run, and that was our main goals to be able to stop the run.”

Lane said technique issues led to breakdowns like the James touchdown pass.

“They were just kind of misaligned just a little bit. So just teaching them how cheat and cut that slant and don’t let them be able to run that slant route on you.”

PIRATES WIN PC DISTRICT FOOTBALL CROWN

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City	2-0
Putnam City West	0-1
Putnam City North	0-1

With the win, Putnam City clinched the 2024 Putnam City Schools football crown, having already beaten Putnam City West last Friday (Sept. 6).

The Patriots won the football crown last season, beating Putnam City and Putnam City North successive weeks en route to a 3-0 start.

Putnam City North and Putnam City West meet Sept. 27 at North for the final game between the three sister schools.

UP NEXT

Putnam City has a bye week before hosting Northwest Classen (Sept. 26) for Homecoming. The game is a Thursday game and kicks off at 7 p.m.

Putnam City North plays on the road against Southmoore Thursday (Sept. 19) at 7 p.m. Because Southmoore’s new stadium is not ready, North will play at Moore High School.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	F
Putnam City North (1-1)	0	0	0	7	7
Putnam City (2-1)	7	7	0	7	21