PONCA CITY — Putnam City mounted a fourth quarter comeback but Ponca City survived with a 37-34 win Friday (Sept. 4).

Trailing 37-21 entering the final period, the Pirates scored twice for a final push.

Senior quarterback Daeveon Simmons found fellow senior Shawn Jones III behind the Wildcat defense for a 40-yard score to make it 37-27. Original went for two with Petties but the conversion failed.

Ponca City responded by draining the clock and driving inside the Pirate 10-yard line but a 26-yard field goal from the Wildcats’ Tucker Love went wide left.

After a 3-minute Pirate drive, Simmons connected with junior Torieon Blanchey over the middle for a touchdown to make it 37-34 with 3:51 left.

On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats drained the clock to :24 and faced a 4th-and-3 from the Pirate 47-yard line. Ponca City lined up to punt but then changed the formation. An upback took the direct snap but senior Tameer Boyce brought him down short of the line to gain.

This gave PC the ball at its 46-yard line with :22 left with no timeouts.

Putnam City moved the ball but the clock kept moving as well.

With three seconds left, Simmons was wrapped up near the line of scrimmage. He hurled the ball toward the sideline to try and stop the clock. Officials ruled it intentional grounding.

Simmons had to leave the game after being shaken up and his helmet off.

With 1.1 seconds left, Petties took a direct snap and rolled out to pass. He was hit by Ponca junior linebacker Theaden Leigh as he threw. The ball landed on the turf and time expired, giving the Wildcats the win.

After failing to throw a touchdown pass in the week zero loss to Yukon, Simmons threw for a three scores against Ponca City. Petties added two rushing touchdowns in the loss.

Ponca City junior Inell Derogers rushed for three touchdowns. Senior Jonston Burke connected with fellow senior Jeremy Evans for two touchdown passes for the WIldcats.

UP NEXT

The Pirates (0-2) return home next Friday (Sept. 11) to host Booker T. Washington at 7 p.m.

The Hornets (1-1) have had success in both 5A and 6A-I with their most recent title coming in 2017 (in 6A-II) Booker T. Washington moved up this season from 5A to 6A-II.

After a win of 5A Collinsville in week zero, 5A power Carl Albert handed the Hornets a 39-18 loss Friday.

Photographs courtesy of Danielle Johnson.

PONCA CITY – Love 22 field goal, 8:35, 1Q
PUTNAM CITY – Petties 73 run (Yanez kick), 8:10, 1Q
PONCA CITY – Rogers 4 run (Love kick), 3:01, 1Q
PONCA CITY – Evans 44 pass from Burke (Love kick), 10:26, 2Q
PONCA CITY – Evans 20 pass from Burke (Love kick), 5:25, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY – Petties 45 run (Huffman run), 2:21, 2Q
PONCA CITY – Rogers 28 run (kick failed), 1:18, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY – Chester 75 pass from Simmons (kick failed), 1:06, 2Q
PONCA CITY – Rogers 1 run (Love kick), :29, 3Q
PUTNAM CITY – Jones 40 pass from Simmons (run failed), 10:51, 4Q
PUTNAM CITY – Blanchey 22 pass from Simmons (Yanez kick), 3:51, 4Q