Putnam County’s soccer season came to an end last week in the second round of Class A Division I state playoffs.
The top-seeded Blue Devils defeated No. 16 Putnam 8-0 to advance to the next round.
Putnam County head coach Michael Taylor said his team felt confident going into the game, but gave credit to Model.
“We knew we were the underdogs but felt confident in our play and with our lineup that day,” Taylor stated. “Unfortunately, we were no match for their speed and technical abilities that evening.”
Model delivered an offensive explosion, with goals from several players in the second-round win. The Blue Devils controlled the pace of play and cruised to victory.
The War Eagles maintained a strong presence early in the first half, as their defense kept Model away from the box. However, the Blue Devils finally broke through with a score from John Myles Mason to take the lead.
Within a few minutes, Zeke Donner put them ahead 2-0 off a corner kick.
The War Eagles attempted a comeback, but Blue Devil keeper Tanner Couey made several impressive saves to keep them scoreless.
Meanwhile, Model’s defense successfully kept Putnam County’s scoring trio of Edwin Garcia, Alex Jimenez, and Emmanuel Meraz from finding a rhythm.
Model walked into the locker room with a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“We were pinned back on the defensive end the entire first half, facing shot after shot and many corner kicks,” Taylor said about his team’s performance in the opening 40 minutes.
Model’s offensive surge didn’t slow down in the second half, either. The Blue Devils piled onto their lead with six more goals, as the War Eagles’ back line couldn’t stop them.
“We made some adjustments, but the second half was pretty much the same until we had a lightning delay with just 13 minutes to play,” Taylor said. “When we resumed, there was little we could do to change the outcome, so we just had fun playing in the heavy rain as our season came to a close. Even in the loss, we were blessed to be there, and we have a good group of boys to build on for next season.”
Putnam County’s season ended in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. In Taylor’s third year as head coach, the War Eagles finished the 2025 season with a 12-7 overall record.