OKCPrepSports
Putnam City West
Patriots
FOOTBALL
Patriots' defense saves the day
The Putnam City West versus Choctaw football game on Friday evening was a tribute to fundamentals.
Choctaw’s Chris Doss took the opening kickoff to the Patriots’ 28-yard line. The Yellowjackets stayed on the ground and drove to the 1-yard line in seven plays. From there quarterback Nick Chalifoux ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
With the successful extra-point, Choctaw led 7-0,
The Patriots’ Dion Carter ran the kickoff into Choctaw’s end of the field. On their first play from the 47-yard line, the Patriots did little to help their cause as they fumbled the ball away.
Back on defense, West’s Kerry Daniels and Aaron Flesner managed a couple of quarterback sacks.
On fourth-and-26, the Yellowjackets snapped the ball over the head of their punter, who fell on the ball in the end zone for a safety.
After Choctaw’s free kick, the Patriots’ again had great field position. Starting from the Jackets’ 39, the Pats mixed the run and passes from Bryce Stout to move the ball deep into Choctaw’s red zone.
The Patriots secured first downs on a third-and-eight and also on a third-and-16.
On third-and-eight from the 9-yard line, Stout passed to Daniel Farrow for a touchdown.
Going for a two-point conversion, West’s Cooper Hahn took a handoff from Stout and ran into the end zone.
Holding a 10-7 lead, West again stopped the Yellowjackets, who punted on fourth down.
Carter fielded the punt on West’s 48-yard line and ran through the Yellowjackets for a touchdown.
Greg Diaz kicked the extra-point to give the Pats a surprising 17-7 lead.
Choctaw fought back on their next possession as they moved to West’s 21-yard line. After a 5-yard penalty, Chalifoux tossed a touchdown pass to Andrew Williamson.
Ryan Brewer kicked the extra-point, cutting the West’s lead to 17-14.
The Patriots’ moved the ball to midfield and were forced to punt.
Choctaw moved the ball again into West’s end of the field before Carter managed to intercept a pass at the 19-yard line.
West’s final possession of the half nearly ended as a disaster. On first-and-10 from Choctaw’s 44-yard line, the Pats snapped the ball over the head of their quarterback. Fortunately for West, they recovered the ball for a 22 yard loss.
At halftime, West led by three points, 17-14.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, Farrow ran the ball from West’s 15-yard line to Choctaw’s 30.
The Patriots were unable to capitalize on the great field position as they turned the ball over to Choctaw on downs.
On the Jackets’ second play, they fumbled and the ball was covered by West’s Cort Brock.
This time the Patriots’ took advantage of starting in Choctaw’s end of the field.
Stout passed to Reono McCullough for a 27-yard touchdown.
The extra-point kick missed, but Putnam City West led by nine, 23-14.
Choctaw countered with a 73-yard drive that culminated with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Chalifoux to Tucker Davis.
Ryan Brewer kicked the extra-point, cutting West’s lead to 2-points, 23-21.
The Patriots made the game a little more interesting on their next possession with a lost fumble on the second play from scrimmage.
Following a West punt, Choctaw started at West’s 21-yard line in what might well become the turning point in the Patriots’ season.
The Jackets moved to within inches of the 10-yard line.
The Patriots’ did not help their cause with an off-sides penalty that.
On first-and-five to go, Choctaw gained three yards. On second down, they moved to the 2-yard line. Another run moved the ball about a foot from the end zone, which left the ball inches from a first down.
On fourth down, the Patriots’ again denied the Yellowjackets any progress.
The Patriots spent much of their preseason practice time learning how to tackle. The work on fundamentals showed on the game field.
With West now in possession of the ball inside their 1-yard line, the Pats began a possession that started with 9:07 remaining in the game. When the Pats punted, the clock read 5:02.
Choctaw again tried to take the lead as moved from West’s 47 to the 29-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.
With 2:58 remaining in the game, West held possession for the remainder of the game – even falling on a pair of their own fumbles.
The 23-21 victory was the first of the season for the 1-1 Patriots and the first in the career of Coach John Jensen at Putnam City West.
In their post game on-field gathering, Farrow was shouting to his teammates that “West is back!”
Coach Jensen said, “Our defense stepped up and played unbelievably in tough sports. Our offense was explosive at times and controlled the clock at times. We told our special teams unit that they could return a kick tonight it was a great team win tonight. Everyone contributed. It was phenomenal. We beat a good Choctaw team. It was awesome. We are not there yet. We have a lot to improve on.”
West will travel on Friday to Yukon, a surprising 2-0 this season.