WARR ACRES – Putnam City junior Savion James only had two touches in the Pirates 21-7 win over North Friday (Sept. 13), but as he has so far this season, he made the most of his opportunities.

In the fourth quarter, North had just scored to pull within seven points when junior quarterback Joshua Lombard connected with James at the hash mark at the 32-yard line. James 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.

“He’s a playmaker,” Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said after the game. “We got explosive playmakers a lot of places. He made the play when it mattered.”

James’ two catches against the Panthers netted 79 yards and the score. Against West the week before, James had a 25-yard touchdown catch (his only touch of the game). In the week zero games against Yukon, James’ lone catch was a 73-yard touchdown.

LOMBARD BEATS FORMER TEAM

Lombard, who transferred from North to Putnam City over the offseason, went 11-of-26 with 181 yards against his former team. The junior had the touchdown pass to James but also an interception.

“For him to get a win against his former team, I know that’s big,” Alexander said. “He led us, but we said we got some things we got to work out.”

KNOX SHORT-YARDAGE WEAPON FOR PC

Senior Brayden Knox’s defensive exploits are well-known, drawing the attention of D-I college programs, but he continued to make an impact on offense in short-yardage situations for the Pirates.

The 6’3″, 230-pound Knox rushed four times for 30 yards and a score.

“When you have a big gun, sometimes you gotta shoot it,” Alexander said of using Knox.

Junior Rodgerick Sloan had 10 carries for 46 yards. Sophomore LaDarren Shoals added eight touches for 29 yards. Lombard ran the ball six times for 22 yards.

KNOX, EXUM IMPACT DEFENSE

Knox and fellow senior Michael Exum had nine tackles. Knox had two tackles for loss and Exum had one. Junior DJ Ackerson added eight tackles (two for loss). Senior Johnn Sheffey had seven tackles and one for a loss.

Exum also recovered a fumble.

The Pirates had nine sacks of North quarterback Mason Jones in the game. Knox and Ackerson each had two sacks, followed single sacks from junior Tripp Alexander, junior Nasir Nelson, senior Sy Phipps, Sheffey and Exum.

The Pirate secondary picked off Jones twice with seniors Mykel Ford and Elijah Asberry each snagging an interception.

HENSON PINS NORTH DEEP

Senior Jayden Henson, who handles kickoffs and punts for Original, pinned North inside their 20-yard line three times, averaging 30 yards a boot. The Pirates’ won the field position battle, especially in the first half.

Also on special teams, senior Tobias Braddy had an 84-yard kickoff return to start the second half. The Pirates were unable to convert in the red zone when Lombard was picked off.