The biggest game of the year turned out to be the Putnam County War Eagles’ ( 6-2, 3-2) worst loss of the season.
In a matchup with region championship implications and a playoff atmosphere, the Jasper County Hurricanes (7-1, 4-1) blew out the visiting War Eagles, 42-9.
“The score is what it is because you didn’t give everything you had tonight,” War Eagle head coach Joel Harvin said. “We got whooped up front, on both sides of the ball. We gave up big play after big play, and just gave them two touchdowns.”
The Hurricanes took an early 21-0 lead, and never looked back. Putnam was unable to keep pace due largely to the fact that the Class 2A-4 leading rusher and the War Eagles’ strongest offensive weapon, Kumari Thomas, was sidelined due to a knee injury suffered in practice earlier in the week. Because of Thomas’ absence, the War Eagles had to rely on their passing game.
With no ground game, Putnam’s quarterback Caleb Reeves, who has only thrown 10 passes all season, was asked to drop back and throw 21 times, completing 10 of those passes. Reeves was also Putnam’s leading rusher on the night with 77 yards on 9 carries, and scored the War Eagles’ only touchdown.
The War Eagles’ defense didn’t do much better. The only highlight came late in the second quarter when Brandon Jackson hit the Hurricane’s quarterback in the endzone, causing a fumble that went out of the back of the endzone, resulting in a safety.
Harvin said after the game it was the little things that made the difference. “It’s the small, little detailed things that I know the coaches have taught you that we didn’t do.” He also added that despite the loss, he is not completely upset with his team. “There are some bright spots here,” he said. “We got some guys with bloody noses, and we got some guys who were on the field for every snap of the game. It was because you had to. I am proud of ya’ll, man. We have a lot of injuries, we are a banged up football team. But you kept going on to the field. I have been here for four years, and the last three teams that I have coached would have shut it down at halftime. Heads down, feeling sorry for themselves. But you guys kept playing, until the very end and that makes me proud.”
The War Eagles will host the Josey Eagles tomorrow night, Friday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 at War Eagle stadium.