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FOOTBALL

Not ready for prime time yet; PC downs West, 20-0

There is nothing like playing a rival one week one to get you ready for the new season – unless things don’t go according to the plan.

On Friday at the Putnam City Stadium, the Putnam City Pirates defeated the Putnam City West Patriots, 20-0. That is how the story ends, but were it started and how it reached it’s way to the end is what makes it interesting.

The Patriots, under new head coach John Jensen, had a new system to learn and very little time to learn it. Then came the cross-country tragedy at West. The team cancelled two practices and their second scrimmage out of respect for Phillip Jones.

The plan was to treat the first quarter as their second scrimmage – and makes corrections on the spot.

The Pirates were sick. Several starters missed the game due to illnesses, most notably was their quarterback, Nico Watson. PC’s co-offensive coordinator, Rob Renshaw, reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out a scheme that he tried when he was the head coach at Bethany High School about six years ago.

The Pirates would just snap the ball directly to their running backs and bypass the quarterback.

The game opened with West receiving the ball. After three plays that gained little, the Patriots attempted a punt – which was blocked.

Putnam City attempted to strike quickly with a first down pass from West’s 24-yard line, but the Patriots intercepted the ball.

In West’s only drive of the night, they managed to move the ball 30-yards and into the Pirates’ end of the field before punting.

Putnam City fed the Patriots’ defense a steady diet of Tyler Wegner and Fred Cato as they slowly moved to the 58 yards to the West 9-yard line before Wegner kicked a 26-yard field goal.

On their next possession, West turned the ball over on a second down fumble.

Putnam City moved from West’s 27 to the 1-yard line before returning the ball to the Patriots on downs.

After three plays, the Pats were only to their 3-yard line and facing a punt. Rather than have their kick blocked, West’s punter stepped out of the end zone for a safety.

PC started on their 48 and moved to the Patriots’ 18 in 6 plays. On second-and-two from the 10, Fred Cato ran into the end zone for a touchdown with 1:35 remaining in the half.

The 2-point conversion failed, but PC led, 11-0.

The second half was much like the first.

West was pinned deep in their territory following a PC punt. Two plays later, quarterback Bryce Stout was tackled by Trey Fore, giving the Pirates two more points.

PC could move the ball at times, but nothing that was impressive – except for their final drive of the game.

PC started on their 43 and 10 plays later Greg Cortes ran for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Pirates won the rivalry game, 20-0.

Following the game, Jensen said “We have some improving to do. We are all right.”

Putnam City’s head coach, Mark Little, said “We came out and thought we were pretty good and that is what happens.”