PONCA CITY – Putnam City North overcame first half mistakes to beat Ponca City, 42-28, in a 6A-II District 2 matchup Friday (Oct. 4).

North senior Milton Alford fumbled on the first play from scrimmage after a short run. This led the Wildcats into the end zone, helped out by a big pass interference penalty against the Panthers on fourth down. Ponca City senior Aven Hobbs cashed in for a score on fourth down for a 7-0 lead.

North answered with a 65-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a six-yard score from Alford.

The North defense got the ball back when senior Kyran Axtell stripped Hobbs after a long run. Junior Bishop Moore recovered the ball but the Panthers were unable to move the ball.

North’s next offensive possession started deep in Ponca City territory after senior Kameron Oliver returned the punt 29 yards to the Ponca 21-yard line.

The Panthers wasted the field position as junior Mason Jones was intercepted by Wildcat junior Adriel Miller on a tipped ball. Ponca City took advantage with a 91-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by sophomore Johnston Burk at the 2:00 mark before halftime.

North answered with :36 before half. Jones found Bravion Stubbs in the end zone from 11 yards out. Senior Colin Patton’s extra point was blocked and North trailed 14-13 at halftime.

Out of halftime, Ponca City drove down the field with a drive lasting 7:05, helped out by a roughing the punter penalty on North.

Burk appeared to be stopped at the goal line by North senior Tyrie Caldwell on fourth down, but officials ruled he had crossed the goal line and Ponca City extended the lead to 21-13 with 4:55 left in the third quarter.

North tied the game on the ensuing possession, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from senior Kameron Oliver out of the Wildcat formation. On the two-point conversion try, Alford was seemingly stopped by the his own offensive linemen getting pushed back into the backfield. He cut to the his left and ran to the pylon to tie the game at 21-21 with 1:18 left in the third.

Near the end the third quarter, North senior Kelvin Tucker caused Wildcat junior Donovan Harjo to fumble and it was recovered by junior Mitchell Taylor.

North took the lead after the turnover. Alford somersaulted in the end zone after an 11-yard run with 11:30 left. Patton’s kick hit the left upright but the ball went through to give North a 28-21 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Harjo fumbled again after being pulled down to the turf by Caldwell. Junior J.T. Hutchinson recovered the ball at the Ponca 20-yard line.

North took advantage as senior Dameon Hardmon scored on a 10-yard run, reaching for the right pylon. With the score, the Panthers opened the lead up to 35-21 with 7:33 left.

Ponca found new life two plays later when Burk connected with Jeremy Evans, who got behind the North secondary for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 6:46 left.

North sealed the win a drive that last nearly six minutes, capped off by Hardmon’s second score, a 39-yard touchdown run down the North sideline with :59 left.

Down two scores, Ponca City tried to mount a comeback but Moore intercepted Burk near midfield with eight seconds left for the win.

“I was just proud of the adjustments our guys made at halftime,” Putnam City North coach Derek Lane said via phone. “The coaches and players and everybody. It wasn’t nothing that, that I think Ponca City was doing. It was just some adjustments we had to make on our end and the kids went out there and they executed it.”

Lane said the North offense’s ability to sustain drives was a key to the win, pointing to a key play.

“We were only down by one touchdown and it was a fourth and inches and our guys were able to convert that and get us first down and take some more time off the clock,” Lane said.

The win came after the Panthers fell to Ponca City at home last season after a Panther comeback fell short late in the game.

“We knew how it ended last year, and we just wanted to make sure that we didn’t put ourselves in that type of situation again,” Lane said. “We could just go out there and win the game and not have to worry about any last second touchdowns or any of that.”

The win spoiled the Wildcats homecoming, a fact that North took note of.

“Obviously (Ponca City) was looking in the past and they obviously picked us for homecoming for a reason. But what we try to preach to the kids is like we don’t ever look back. All we’re worried about is what’s ahead of us.”

UP NEXT

Putnam City North (4-1, 2-0) returns home next Friday (Oct. 11) for homecoming against Capitol Hill. The Generals (1-4, 0-2) were drilled Sand Springs at home Friday (Oct. 4), 68-7.

	1	2	3	4	F
Putnam City North (4-1, 2-0)	7	6	8	21	42
Ponca City (1-4, 0-2)	7	7	7	7	28