OKCPrepSports
Putnam City North
Panthers
FOOTBALL
Panthers survive scare from Moore Lions, 35-26
Friday night saw the Panthers travel to Moore Stadium to take on the Lions from Moore High School. Both teams entered the game 3-0 in district play. The winner of this game would have a leg up on post-season play and seeding for the playoffs.
The Panthers received the ball to open the game and wasted no time putting points on the board. North went 58 yards to find the end zone.
Josh Booker had two straight runs for 13 yards each to set up the score. Quarterback Matt Veazey found Kevin Cabello in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard score. Cabello kicked the point after - and the Panthers led 7-0.
The Lions threatened on the ensuing drive.
On a third and long play running back Jared Jackson took the hand off on a draw play and ran 59 yards to North's 11-yard line. The Panthers' defense held the Lions - forcing a field goal attempted, which missed wide left.
The Lions got the ball back on a fumble late in the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter quarterback Billy Balak connected with Taylor Gardner on a 44-yard touchdown.
Moore went for a two-point conversion, but a penalty pushed the Lions back -forcing a 33-yard PAT kick, which missed as well. The Panthers lead was cut to one point.
The Panthers answered on the ensuing possession. Veazey set up the touchdown with a long completion to the Lions 5-yard line. This was early in the second quarter, but Veazey's passing was already seven-for-seven for 99 yards.
Booker found the goal line on a 5-yard scamper.
With the extra point kick, PC North led 14-6.
On North's next possession, PCN scored again. Booker had two great runs in a row. The first covered 35 yards to the 10-yard line. On the next play he covered the last 10 yards for a touchdown.
North led at halftime, 21-6.
Moore High received the second half kickoff. After moving the ball fairly well, they were forced to punt to North.
The punt went into the end zone for a touchback, giving the Panthers the ball on the 20-yard line.
The Panthers went on a very methodical march. Booker did the majority of the damage. He eventually scored from the 3-yard line for his third touchdown of the game.
With 5:03 left in the third quarter Booker had 19 carries for 159 yards - and the Panthers led, 28-6.
On Moore's next possession, the Lions had penalty problems - forcing them into a second-and-44 hole.
Moore fortune's turned for the better when they punted to North, who fumbled the football - giving Moore the ball and the momentum.
At the beginning of the final period, Jackson caught a screen pass and ran 15-yards to pay dirt.
North's lead was cut 15, 28-13.
The next two Lion possessions ended in touchdowns.
The momentum was on Moore's side.
The Lions tried to tie the game after the second score by going for a 2-point conversion.
They were stopped short - and with 5:06 left in the game, the Panthers led 28-26.
Booker put this game away in the Panthers final possession of the game. On third-and-short, he took the handoff and hit the hole for a 31-yard gain - and a first down.
With only 1:45 left in the game, Booker once again broke free and found the end zone from 25 yards out.
The extra point was good - and the final score was posted at 35-26.
-B. W.