MAYSVILLE, Mo. – Putnam County needed just 16 seconds to answer Maysville’s opening touchdown Friday night. Keeping the Wolverines from reclaiming the lead took considerably more work, but the Midgets delivered enough timely plays on offense, defense and special teams to leave with their fourth consecutive victory.
Corbin Campbell Johnson returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, Rayden Chapman intercepted two passes, and Putnam County held Maysville scoreless after halftime to secure a 27-13 Grand River Conference road win on the Wolverines’ homecoming night. The Midgets improved to 4-2 after opening the season with two losses, while Maysville slipped to 1-5.
On a field that became increasingly slippery as the night progressed, Putnam County built a 21-7 advantage in the second quarter, carried a 21-13 lead into halftime and added the only touchdown of the second half. The performance gave head coach Adam Huse another victory, along with several areas to address as the regular season enters its final three weeks.
“Our kids were able to handle that, and we were able to make adjustments and execute just well enough to come away with a win,” Huse said of the conditions. “It wasn’t pretty, but an ugly win is better than a pretty loss any day.”
Maysville controlled the opening possession, taking seven minutes and 12 seconds off the clock while working through missed tackles by the Putnam County defense. Quarterback Memphis Cole finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, and the extra point gave the Wolverines a 7-0 lead with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Campbell Johnson immediately erased much of that work. Fielding the ensuing kickoff near his own 15-yard line, he followed his blocking through the middle, broke free toward the sideline and raced 85 yards for the touchdown. Putnam County followed with a successful two-point pass to Campbell Johnson, taking an 8-7 lead with 4:32 left in the quarter.
The Midgets never trailed again, though Maysville continued to provide resistance throughout the night.
Chapman contributed his first interception in the opening quarter, and Putnam County extended its advantage just five seconds into the second. Campbell Johnson powered into the end zone on a 5-yard run, making it 14-7 after an unsuccessful two-point attempt.
A Maysville special teams mistake then handed the Midgets another opportunity. A high snap on a punt attempt left Putnam County with possession at the Wolverines’ 12-yard line, and Seth Hannink converted the short field into points on the next play. Hannink took the handoff, bounced outside and fought through contact for a 12-yard touchdown. Matthew Blanchard added the extra point for a 21-7 lead with 8:46 remaining before halftime.
Maysville answered before the break. Cole scored his second rushing touchdown on a 2-yard quarterback draw, cutting the margin to eight points. Matthew McMillen blocked the extra-point attempt, preserving Putnam County’s 21-13 halftime advantage.
The start of the third quarter brought another special teams break for the visitors. Putnam County’s kickoff struck a Maysville player, and the Midgets recovered near the Wolverines’ 45-yard line to retain possession and begin the half with a short field.
Sawyer Morgan made that opportunity count. With time to work in the pocket, he found Blanchard open behind the defense for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, but Putnam County had stretched its lead to 27-13.
Neither team scored again. Slippery footing, dropped passes, mishandled snaps and penalties interrupted possessions, while Maysville repeatedly tried to find a way back into the game through the air.
Putnam County’s defense supplied the stops necessary to protect the two-touchdown cushion. Charley Dickerson contributed a sack, and the Midgets turned away a fourth-and-long completion when Maysville’s Ryan Hogan was stopped short of the line to gain.
Cole later intercepted a Putnam County pass to give the Wolverines another chance. Maysville still could not turn that opportunity into points, and Chapman delivered the decisive takeaway in the closing minutes.
On fourth-and-nine, Chapman stepped into the path of a crossing route for his second interception and returned the ball deep into Maysville territory. Cole made the tackle to prevent a touchdown, but Putnam County had possession at the Wolverines’ 24-yard line with 1:07 remaining and was able to run out the clock.
Huse praised Chapman’s defensive performance, including his two interceptions and tackling, while also pointing to his willingness to block and carry out his assignments on offense. That willingness to accept a role and respond to coaching has been a broader strength of the team, Huse said.
“The biggest thing is they keep answering the challenges that we put in front of them,” Huse said. “As we continue to put more and more on them, they continue to step up and do those things.”
Campbell Johnson led Putnam County’s rushing attack with an unofficial 73 yards on 12 carries, adding his rushing touchdown to the kickoff return score. Hannink finished with 32 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Dickerson added 15 yards on six attempts.
Blanchard’s 30-yard touchdown catch supplied the Midgets’ only second-half points. Braxton Wood contributed a 36-yard reception, and Jacob Jones added a 13-yard catch.
For Maysville, Graham Kennedy carried 18 times for an unofficial 50 yards. Cole finished with 27 rushing yards and both Wolverine touchdowns, while Hogan added 21 yards on 11 carries. Keagan Reeder led the receiving effort with four catches for 81 yards.
Putnam County was charged with eight penalties for 70 yards, compared with seven for 40 yards against Maysville. For Huse, improving consistency up front and eliminating avoidable penalties remain priorities as the Midgets work toward the postseason.
“If we want to be able to beat really good teams at the end of the year and in the playoffs and hopefully try to make a run like we did last year, you’re going to have to clean all that stuff up,” Huse said. “If you continue to give teams opportunities, they’re going to hurt you with them.”
Putnam County will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it travels to Trenton on Friday, Oct. 9.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
Click here to listen to the broadcast of this game.
