It was recently announced that several players on the Putnam County football team received All-Region honors.
The War Eagles had one player earn an individual award, 12 players named to the All-Region team, and four players garnering honorable mentions.
“Putnam County was well represented on the All-Region Team, and that is a testament to how much work they have put in throughout the offseason and during the year,” Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin said to the Lake Oconee News this week. “Most of these guys could have probably made All-Region on the other side of the ball as well because a lot of them played both ways in every snap of every game. For Putnam to have this many guys represented in such a competitive region is great for our program and our school.”
Senior two-way player Branan Griffin earned the Coaches Award for his performance on the field this season. He received the award from the region coaches because he played this entire senior campaign with a torn ACL.
Griffin played linebacker and running back for Putnam County but switched to quarterback after starter Ethan Whatley got injured. He also started as the quarterback for the War Eagles during his freshman year in 2021.
As a senior, Griffin completed 30 of 53 pass attempts for 241 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound two-way player also rushed for 246 yards on 34 attempts and three scores.
“All the coaches from the region decided to create the Coaches Award for Branan for his toughness in being able to play with a torn ACL for the entire season,” Harvin said of Griffin. “He tore it in game one and made up his mind he was going to play his senior year and battled through the pain all year long, and every coach felt compelled by his commitment to give him an award for outstanding toughness and dedication.”
Putnam County had six players earn first-team honors. On offense, running back Omarion Butts, tight end/H-back Bryson Brown, offensive lineman Johnny Bishop, and receiver Jayson Smith earned the postseason honor.
Defensive lineman Steven Grandt and defensive back Bill Waters were the All-Region first-team defensive players.
The War Eagles had five players earn All-Region second-team honors. Offensive lineman Jabius Farley was the only selection on offense. On defense, it was defensive lineman Japeth Nelson, linebacker Christian Farley, defensive back Rodney Hines, and punter Ethan Whatley.
Putnam County’s four players who were named to the All-Region honorable mention list were running back Blake Williams, tight end Brandon Jackson, along with offensive linemen Jayden Bishop and Joe Ward.
The War Eagles finished the 2025 season with a 5-6 record, losing in the first round of the playoffs to Thomasville. They reached the postseason for a third straight season under Harvin and seventh straight overall.
Harvin and Putnam County will miss its seniors, who played for him the past three seasons.
“I’ve got a group of seniors who have a lot of good character,” the head coach of the War Eagles said following their first-round loss to the Bulldogs. “A lot of these guys are going to own businesses in the future. They’re going to have successful businesses because of their strong leadership skills.
“They all bought in. I would say at least 90 percent of them have been here for all four years and are committed to our program. I just appreciate everything that they’ve done for us,” Harvin added. “I hope that the guys underneath them could really see how they led our program and how they were just good kids who did what was right. So, that was the biggest message, just to continue that legacy of those guys and continue to do what’s right.”