OKLAHOMA CITY — Putnam City West senior Kendyll Weaver and junior KJ Cowell accounted for five touchdowns as the Patriots earned a 46-0 shutout of Capitol Hill Friday (Aug. 28) at C.B. Speegle Stadium.

Weaver took the first play from scrimmage 80 yards down the West sideline.

There was more scoring to come.

Later in the first quarter, Cowell connected with senior Jace Lee over the top for 12-yard score.

Less than two minutes later, a bad Red Wolf snap on a punt gave the Patriots the ball in the red zone. Later Cowell scored from nine yards out, the first of two rushing scores.

Weaver added a 9-yard run in the second. Then, Cowell scored again.

West coach Rickey Lewis knew that his squad was bigger and more experienced than Capitol Hill, a team who he said resembled West’s 1-9 squad a year ago.

“Now we’re a year older and that really shows up up front,” Lewis said via phone. “Last year, we struggled in the trenches, and I feel like we’re a year more mature in the weight room, a year more mature in what we’re doing, and it’s just starting to show.”

Also in the second quarter, the size and maturity showed on defense with Capitol Hill backed up to near its own goal line. Ishmael Fields rocketed in the end zone to tackle the Red Wolves’ Zhyair Roland in the end zone. Before halftime, Weaver added a safety of his own.

“When you come out and you have a physical advantage, you have to go ahead and, like we say, neutralize them, stomp them out like you really like to,” Lewis said.

On Cowell, the Patriots’ new signal-caller, Lewis said his second nature is to run with the football. Adding that dimension will help after recent seasons where West quarterbacks were facing heavy pressure.

“Now with the dual-threat quarterback, it gives the line a little bit extra time because we know he’s a little bit more fleet afoot.”

On Weaver, Lewis has always seen his speed or his “electric jets” as Lewis puts it.

“Weaver is off to a fast start, but he’s always had that ability. Kendyll’s the type of kid who can run anywhere from 23 to 24 miles per hour, top speed, literally,” Lewis said. “Now he’s fully in. He’s a full buy-in. We’re getting to see his talent come to fruition because he’s being coached hard and he’s taking the coaching.”

With the win, the Patriots were the only Putnam City school to win their opener, something that hasn’t happened since 2023.

“It feels really good to be the only PC school that gets to be happy tonight,” Lewis said. “There ain’t been many of these times for West lately, but this is gonna be a feeling that we’re gonna get used to.”

UP NEXT

The Patriots home opener is next Friday (Sept. 4) against 5A El Reno. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Indians dropped a 44-28 contest to 5A Midwest City on Thursday.

Last season, El Reno finished 4-6 and missed the playoffs.

PUTNAM CITY WEST – Weaver 80 yard run (Cha kick), 11:46, 1Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Lee 12 yard pass from Cowell (kick failed), 3:06, 1Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Cowell 9 yard run (kick failed), 1:23, 1Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Weaver 9 yard run (kick failed), 9:33, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Safety, Roland tackled in end zone by Fields, 8:18, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Cowell 2 yard run (Adkins run), 5:11, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Safety, #24 tackled in end zone by Weaver, 3:45, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Cha 30 yard field goal, 1:55, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY WEST – Adkins 5 yard run (pass failed), 4:12, 3Q