Putnam City North coach Brian Lockart knew Charlie Bowie had talent.

Lockart, who spent year six years as an assistant with the Panthers before taking the head job this season, was waiting for the light bulb to go off for the wide receiver.

Bowie appeared in three games on offense for the Panthers last season. He had two catches, 47 yards and a touchdown.

It’s safe to say that the switch has been flipped for the junior

“He started making plays,” Lockart said via phone after the Panthers’ 47-0 rout of Capitol Hill last Friday. “Internally, I think he understands he can do this at a high level. “

The result through six games: 21 catches for 249 yards and seven touchdowns for the Panthers.

North starts a lot of seniors but Lockart notes that many lack a lot of starting experience.

“Even though he’s an underclassman, I think he realizes. the leadership that we’re missing, that we’re lacking a little bit. He’s not just doing it with display, but he’s also being a vocal leader,” Lockart said. “I think what’s really made him well was probably just belief in himself and understanding that he could play at this level and be a game changer and he has been.”

JONES’ RETURN ADDS TO LOMBARD’S VALUE

North senior quarterback Mason Jones is back in the lineup despite still dealing a hand injury.

“He’s able to finally throw again for the most part pretty good,” Lockart said of Jones. “I’m sure he would say it’s not 100%, but he can finally throw the long ball, spin it a little bit again.”

Lockart is glad to have Jones back “and see him doing his thing.”

Jones at quarterback has enabled North to move fellow senior quarterback Josh Lombard to other positions.

“I could put (Lombard)in the slot or I could put him in the backfield or we could just rotate our packages for both of them. It just makes our team better that way. “

Jones has completed 61 percent of his passes for 578 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Lombard has 209 yards passing and 253 yards rushing. He has seven toal touchdowns (throwing, catching and running).

WILSON MAKING AN IMPACT

Senior Terry Wilson, Jr. (known as TJ among his coaches and teammates) has rushed for 10 touchdowns through six games this season.

The transfer from Putnam City West has 69 carries for 515 yards.

“When he gets free and open space, he’s extremely fast,” Lockart said. Sept. 12 after the Putnam City game. “He’s fun to watch run.”

UP NEXT

The Panthers host Bartlesville (0-6, 0-3) Thursday (Oct. 16) at 7 p.m. for another 6A-II-2 contest.

On Friday, Muskogee routed the Bruins, 48-0.

Despite Bartlesville’s winless start, Lockart doesn’t see that it will be an easy contest.

“You look at a team like Bartlesville that may not have been winning a lot of games, but they’re not a bad football team,” Lockart said. “It’s not like we’ve been beating the doors off people.

“I’m not taking this team lightly, whatsoever.” 

Bruin sophomore Michael Kent has thrown for 1,426 yards with eight scores and five interceptions. Kent also uses his legs and has rushed for a team-leading 369 and two rushing touchdowns.

A win against Bartlesville would put North at 3-1 in 6A-II-2 play with the final home game at Sapulpa next week as well as road games against Sand Springs and Muskogee to round out the regular season.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton.