Putnam County’s season ended last week at Temple in the opening round of Class A Division I playoffs.
The Tigers used a solid second-half effort to win 40-27 and advance. However, they made mistakes, including turning the ball over early, and the War Eagles took advantage of them.
“Well, in the first half, we were able to capitalize off of two turnovers they had,” Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin said after the loss.
Temple turned the ball over inside its 10-yard line, and Putnam’s Rashod Daniel snuck into the end zone. Later in the half, Don Dorsey intercepted a pass, and the War Eagles turned it into a field goal.
Putnam led 17-12 at the break, but the tide turned as the home team gained momentum in the second half. Temple managed to take over on the first possession of the second half with a score.
The War Eagles made a few mistakes, including a penalty on fourth down to extend a Temple drive. They also dropped a pass and had several turnovers, leading to more points for the Tigers.
“That little series of events right there was a deciding factor,” Harvin said. “We really didn’t take care of the ball in the second half. We didn’t make the plays that we needed to make to win the game.”
Putnam also didn’t have an answer for Temple running back CJ Gray, who rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns. He left the game in the first half with an injury but returned in the second half. Gray, a talented 5-foot-9 senior tailback, helped his team win its first-ever home playoff game. The Tigers also relied on senior wide receiver MaClann Metayer, who rushed for 133 yards and a score.
For a second consecutive season, Putnam County ended its year with a 5-6 overall record and a loss in the first round, giving Harvin a 10-16 record in his first two seasons at the helm.
Still, Harvin remains optimistic about the future and thanked his seniors for their efforts after the game. The War Eagles will lose leaders like Daniel, Jamarion Robertson, and others.
“This group of seniors has done everything that I’ve asked. It may not seem like it, but they are program changers,” Harvin said. “They set the tone for the rest of the classes that are coming behind them and showed by example how you’re supposed to practice, be accountable, and play the game. If things don’t go your way, you keep going.
“Because of that, they’ll probably be one of the better classes that have come through here,' Harvin added. "They showed the other guys how to lead and be good leaders. This group has really kind of set that tone for everybody else that comes after them.”