Putnam City ran the ball effectively for the second straight week and made a quarterback change in the Pirates’ 26-14 win over Bartlesville to open the 6A-II playoffs last Friday (Nov. 15).

Senior Rodgerick Sloan rolled up 170 yards on 28 carries.

Junior quarterback Joshua Lombard replaced sophomore Denymn Friday. Lombard had three touchdowns, producing 147 yards on 10 carries.

In the air, Friday finished 6-of-12 for 51 yards and an interception. Lombard was 2-of-6 for 16 yards.

Junior Visanio Boyd, Jr. led the team with five catches for 43 yards. Senior Demarion Ridley had an 18-yard catch. Fellow senior Dom Williams had two catches for seven yards.

The Pirates lost three fumbles on offense (Friday, Sloan and Shoels) and senior punter Jayden Henson had two fumbles.

On defense, senior Johnn Sheffey had 10 tackles, one for a loss and a sack. Fellow senior Sy Phipps added nine tackles with one for a loss. Junior DJ Ackerson collected eight tackles and a sack.

Senior Michael Exum junior Keelan Johnson each had a sack in the win.

Sophomore Gabe Osborne led off the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and also had an interception while playing in the secondary.

NAVIGATING THE QB CHANGE

Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said both Friday and Lombard have dealt with the quarterback changes well this season.

“The good thing is that the one that’s not in is engaged. So when it is his opportunity, he’s able to step up and make a play,” Alexander said via phone. “That’s what we just tell folks, you never know when yourself is going to be your time. So, you got to be able to make a play when it comes to your number is called.”

Alexander said Lombard is better runner and Friday is the better passer.

“If we put them together, we got a hell of a quarterback.”

KNOX STILL HEALING

Pirate senior linebacker Brayden Knox played a handful of plays in the second half against Bartlesville after suffering an injury against Piedmont Nov. 8.

“He played a handful of plays . . . just to get a little energy going,” Alexander said.

NEXT OPPONENT: Muskogee

The top-ranked Roughers have piled up the points and yards in a 10-0 regular season. Muskogee is averaging 473 yards of total offense a contest.

Muskogee averaged 49.9 points a game in the regular season.

Senior Jamarian Ficklin has thrown for 2,028 yards this season with 27 touchdowns. He’s also run for 474 yards and 10 scores.

Ficklin’s biggest target is senior Ondraye Beasley. Despite injuries and only playing in eight games, Beasley has 29 catches for 607 yards and seven scores. Beasley did not play in the regular season finale against Putnam City North.

Another senior, EJ James, has 16 catches for 422 yards and seven touchdowns.

On the ground, senior PJ Wallaces has chewed up 1,402 yards with 18 scores. Wallace has topped the 100-yard mark in eight games.

Class 6A-II OSSAA Football Championship
FIRST ROUND/FRIDAY, November 15, 2024
Bartlesville at Putnam City
Southmoore at Putnam City North
Lawton Eisenhower at Sapulpa
Ponca City at Piedmont
Muskogee, Bye
Stillwater, Bye
Choctaw, Bye
Sand Springs, Bye

QUARTERFINALS/FRIDAY, November 22, 2024
Putnam City/Bartlesville at Muskogee
Putnam City North/Southmoore at Stillwater
Sapulpa/Lawton Eisenhower at Choctaw
Piedmont/Ponca City at Sand Springs

SEMIFINALS/FRIDAY, November 29, 2024
TBD

CHAMPIONSHIP/SATURDAY, December 7, 2024
TBD, 7 p.m. (University of Central Oklahoma)

All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.