EDMOND — After a dominant rushing performance in the first half against Sand Springs Friday (Nov. 28), Putnam City struggled in the second half and the Sandites beat the Pirates, 28-27, on a late touchdown and 2-point conversion to advance to the 6A-II state championship game.
The Pirates (9-3) opened up a commanding 20-0 lead in the first half behind a strong ground game. Four different players scored rushing touchdowns.
PC senior Rodgerick Sloan, Jr. rushed 16 times for 152 yards and score in the first half. He finished with 206 yards on 28 carries.
The only flaw for Original was a botched snap and hold on an extra point on their third score.
The Sandites’ potent offense finally got on the board with 2:02 left in the second quarter.
Sloan’s 55-yard run helped the Pirates answer just before halftime to go to the locker room with a 27-7 lead and control of the game.
In the second half, the script flipped.
The Sandites (10-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 71 yards down the field in 12 plays to make it 27-13 (after a missed extra point of their own).
The Pirates moved the ball to the Sandite 16-yard line after a 32-yard run from senior quarterback CJ Turnbull but turned the ball over on downs.
Sand Springs mounted another drive into PC territory but senior Savion James intercepted Sandite quarterback Easton Webb to end the threat.
Original’s drive went nowhere and early in the fourth quarter, Putnam City punter Reymundo Medina had to punt into a strong south win that was over 40 miles an hour. His punt died against the wind, giving the Sandites the ball at the Pirate 34-yard line.
Again, the PC defense turned away the threat as Sand Springs turned the ball over on downs without getting a first down.
But, the Pirates were unable to sustain a drive, hurt by two penalties and had to punt into the wind again, this time from the PC 47.
The snap sailed over Medina’s head. He corralled the ball at the 1-yard line and kicked out of the back of the end zone to give up a safety, rather than giving Sand Springs the ball near the goal line.
However, because it went out the back of the end zone, officials ruled it was illegal kicking. The crew determined it was a loss of down which gave the Sandites the ball at the half-yard line.
Some observers argued that the penalty should not cause a loss of down and the Pirates could attempt a punt from their half-yard line but the call stood.
The turn of events proved costly for Putnam City as Sand Springs cashed in. Senior Brock O’Dell scored on the next play to make it a 1-possession game, 27-20.
The PC offense moved the ball but a penalty stalled the drive with 2:27 left in the game. Medina’s punt against the strong wind was better and the Sandites started from their 34-yard line.
The Original defense made some stops but three pass interference penalties hurt PC. Webb scored from the 3-yard line.
The Sandites opted to go for the 2-point conversion to give Sand Springs’ its first lead. O’Dell converted to make it 28-27 with 17 seconds left.
Putnam City had one last chance at the Pirate 15-yard line with eight seconds left. A completed pass and a lateral were not enough as the Pirates hit the turf as time ran out.
The loss overshadowed the first half dominance. PC scored on its first three drives and took advantage of a muffed kickoff return for the third score of the game.
Turnbull finished 57 yards on nine carries with a score. Senior DJ Ackerson added 44 yards, mostly early in the game and an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Senior DeShawn Buford rushed for 31 yards on five carries.
Putnam City coach Willis Alexander declined to be interviewed following the game.
The loss end the Pirates’ deepest playoff run since 2003 (which also ended in the semifinals).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam City (9-3) | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Sand Springs (10-2) | 0 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 28 |
PUTNAM CITY – Ackerson 8 yard run (Yanez kick), 10:40, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY – Turnbull 1 yard (kick failed), 6:35, 2Q
SAND SPRINGS – Webb 11 yard run (Copeland kick), 2:02, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY – Alexander 1 yard run (Yanez kick), :44, 2Q
SAND SPRINGS – Forbes 11 yard pass from Webb (Copeland kick), 7:07, 3Q
SAND SPRINGS – O’Dell 1 yard run (Copeland kick), 5:40, 4Q
SAND SPRINGS – Webb 2 yard run (O’Dell run), :17, 4Q
Class 6A-II OSSAA Football Championship
FIRST ROUND/FRIDAY, November 14, 2025
Southmoore 21, Ponca City 14
Choctaw 52, Putnam City North 13
Piedmont 53, Bartlesville 28
Muskogee 62, Northwest Classen 16
Stillwater, Bye
Sapulpa, Bye
Sand Springs, Bye
Putnam City, Bye
QUARTERFINALS/FRIDAY, November 21, 2025
Stillwater 34, Southmoore 9
Choctaw 43, Sapulpa 21
Sand Springs 35, Piedmont 13
Putnam City 21, Muskogee 20
SEMIFINALS/FRIDAY, November 28, 2025
Choctaw 22, Stillwater 14 (At Edmond North)
Sand Springs 28, Putnam City 27 (At Edmond North)
CHAMPIONSHIP/FRIDAY, December 5, 2025
Choctaw vs. Sand Springs, 7 p.m. (University of Central Oklahoma)
West Metro Sports 
One response to “Sandite surge beats Putnam City in semis”
[…] rushed for 202 yards in the 6A-II semifinal loss to Sand Springs officially to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark at 1,083 yards. He also scored once in […]
LikeLike