UNIONVILLE, Mo. - Putnam County scored all 42 of its points after halftime Friday night, overcoming a two-touchdown deficit and answering Brookfield through a second half filled with lead changes to knock off the previously unbeaten Bulldogs 42-34. The Midgets got two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns from Sawyer Morgan, a go-ahead touchdown run from Corbin Campbell-Johnson and three defensive takeaways to earn their sixth straight victory.
The win moved Putnam County to 6-2 overall and 6-0 in the Grand River Conference, keeping the Midgets unbeaten in conference play heading into next week’s rivalry matchup with Milan. Brookfield dropped to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference after a night in which the teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense.
For Putnam County head coach Adam Huse, the comeback was another example of the way his team has responded since opening the season with consecutive losses.
“It could have been easy to fold and quit, and our kids have continued to battle and continued to fight and put themselves in a situation to continue to get better and help put themselves in a situation to make another run late in the season,” Huse said during the Beck’s Hybrids Scoreboard Show.
Brookfield controlled the scoring in the opening half, taking an 8-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by Damian Glasgow and a successful two-point conversion. Phoenix Jordan added a 2-yard touchdown run with 3:31 remaining in the second quarter, and the Bulldogs carried a 14-0 advantage into halftime after the conversion attempt failed.
Putnam County had opportunities to get on the scoreboard before the break but came away empty. That left the Midgets needing both a more productive offense and timely defensive plays against a Brookfield team that had not lost through its first seven games.
“We were down 14-nothing at halftime, and we had two chances to score in the first half and didn’t,” Huse said. “So obviously we weren’t doing the things that we needed to do.”
The Midgets wasted little time changing the game in the third quarter. Morgan connected with Campbell-Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown, and the two-point conversion cut Brookfield’s lead to 14-8. Charley Dickerson followed with an interception that he returned 18 yards for a touchdown, and Matthew Blanchard’s extra point put Putnam County ahead 15-14 with 9:02 remaining in the quarter.
That began a stretch in which neither team could hold the lead for long. Jordan scored on a 17-yard run to move Brookfield back in front 20-15, but Morgan answered with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Dickerson. Putnam County added the two-point conversion for a 23-20 lead with 6:35 left in the third.
Brookfield responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by Coldon Parrent, taking a 26-23 advantage into the fourth quarter. By then, the Midgets had erased their halftime deficit twice and were positioned for a final quarter that would feature four more touchdowns.
Morgan helped keep Putnam County’s next scoring drive alive with a fourth-and-long completion to Rayden Chapman that brought the ball to the 1-yard line. The senior quarterback finished the possession with a touchdown sneak, and Blanchard’s extra point gave the Midgets a 30-26 lead with 9:36 remaining.
Jordan needed less than a minute to answer. His 55-yard touchdown run, followed by Parrent’s two-point conversion, put Brookfield back ahead 34-30 with 8:43 to play. Putnam County responded just as quickly, with Campbell-Johnson breaking loose for a 43-yard touchdown run at the 7:48 mark. The extra-point attempt struck the upright, leaving the Midgets ahead 36-34.
Putnam County’s defense then delivered one of the biggest plays of the night. With Brookfield threatening inside the Midgets’ 30-yard line, Degen Wood intercepted Jordan and returned the ball to midfield, giving Putnam County possession with 4:47 remaining.
Campbell-Johnson fought through contact for a first down as the Midgets worked the clock, and Brookfield penalties helped extend the possession. Morgan capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown with 53 seconds left, stretching the lead to 42-34. Brookfield had one final possession, but the Bulldogs were unable to reach the end zone before time expired.
Morgan finished 13-for-20 passing for 212 yards and two touchdowns while adding 135 yards and two scores on seven rushing attempts. Campbell-Johnson carried 23 times for 158 yards in addition to his touchdown reception, and Dickerson contributed a touchdown on each side of the ball.
Putnam County finished with 538 total yards, including 326 on the ground, and recorded 25 first downs. The Midgets also won the turnover battle 3-0, with Wood recovering a fumble in addition to his interception and Dickerson providing the interception return for a score.
Jordan led Brookfield with 258 rushing yards on 23 carries and three rushing touchdowns, along with 215 passing yards. The Bulldogs totaled 549 yards and 19 first downs, but Putnam County’s takeaways and late scoring drive made the difference.
Huse credited the relationships within his team as an important part of its ability to keep responding.
“If your guys just like hanging out with each other and like being with each other, they like to do things away from the field and the locker room, that’s when you’re successful because they’re willing to fight and dig and play even harder for each other and the person next to them,” Huse said.
The Midgets now turn their attention to Milan with an opportunity to finish conference play unbeaten. Huse said the celebration would come with corrections before preparations begin for the regular-season finale.
“We have a twenty-four-hour rule. We’ll enjoy that victory, and we’ll talk about the things that we did wrong in the morning,” Huse said. “And then Monday we’ll really get to work on Milan.”
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Haley Watt
(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.
