OKLAHOMA CITY — Putnam City scored six touchdowns in the first half en route to a 54-0 rout of Northwest Classen at Douglass’ Moses F. Miller Stadium in the 6A-II District 1 opener for both schools.

The game was moved across town from the Knights’ usual home, Taft Stadium, because of a water line break in the area, according to the Oklahoma City Public Schools Athletic Department.

The rout started from the first play from scrimmage for the the Pirates.

Senior Rodgerick Sloan, Jr. took a handoff from fellow senior CJ Turnbull and sprinted around the left side for a 47-yard touchdown and just nine seconds had elapsed from the game clock.

The Knights’ first drive stalled and senior Bishop Moore tackled Northwest Classen’s punter after he couldn’t handle a low snap. That gave Original the ball at the 1-yard line.

Senior lineman Keelan Johnson lined up in the backfield and took a handoff from Turnbull and easily scored for a 14-0 lead.

The Pirates started their next possession near midfield and it took Putnam City just three plays to score again.

Junior Shawn Jones caught an 11-yard pass and senior Savion James added a 22-yard reception. Jones cashed in on the third play of the drive, catching a screen pass in the flat and sprinting down the Knight sideline untouched for a 19-yard score with 5:18 left in the opening quarter.

Another muffed snap at the start of the second quarter (again with Moore applying pressure) gave the Pirates the football at the one-yard line.

Senior Johnnie Efferson, who spends a majority of his time on the defensive side of the ball, ran it in and the lead was 28-0.

On the next Pirate drive, Turnbull connected with James on a 50-yard strike to the Knight 9-yard line. Turnbull scored on the next play on a scramble he took up the middle and the lead was 35-0.

Original would get one more score before halftime. The Knights turned the ball over on downs at their 36-yard line.

Putnam City moved it quickly down the field and junior lineman Carlos Rhodes rumbled into the end zone, running over two Knights for a four-yard score.

The Pirates scored two more times in the second half, even with a running clock.

In the third quarter, sophomore Shaun Brown picked up a fumbled handoff and sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown. Late in the third quarter, sophomore Marcico Petties added a 12-yard touchdown run.

Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said the blowout game lent itself to having some players who don’t normally carry the ball (two linemen as well as a defensive player).

“In short yardage situations sometimes, you’ve got to allow those kids to have some type of fun,” Alexander said via phone.

Alexander thought it was a good thing to have to change venues for the game. He said he was notified around 1:30 in the afternoon.

“Football’s a game of adjustments and our kids adjusted well,” Alexander said.

UP NEXT

The Pirates host defending 6A-II state champion Choctaw (1-2, 0-0) next Friday (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m.

The Yellowjackets host Piedmont Friday (Sept. 26).

Choctaw opened the season with a 44-23 win over Lubbock Monterey (Texas). A 21-19 loss to Hays (Kan.) followed. Bixby, the defending 6A-I champ, throttled the Jackets last week, 57-7.

“We’ll see who we are come next week,” Alexander said. “(Choctaw is) defending state champion for a reason.”

Alexander said he was more concerned with progress from his team. He was pleased that the Pirates didn’t have any injuries as the game got out of hand.

“Hopefully we keep progressing. I hope we keep growing.” 

	1	2	3	4	F
Putnam City (3-1, 1-0)	21	20	13	0	54
Northwest Classen (1-3, 0-1)	0	0	0	0	0