Wolves make statement

Eric Spruill
The Edmond Sun

November 15, 2008 01:30 am

— OKLAHOMA CITY — Putnam City struggled all night against the Santa Fe defense — three total first downs — while Randy Ponder rushed for 225 yards and a touchdown, as the Wolves won in a 36-0 rout.
What’s next for the Wolves (9-2)? A second round trip to Jenks. And Santa Fe doesn’t seem too concerned.
“They got the best of us in that scrimmage, but give us a week to prepare for them,” Santa Fe head coach Dan Cocannouer said. “I’m tired of everyone penciling them (Jenks) in, now it’s time for us to do something about that, if we want to do it, we can do it.”
On his team’s defensive play: “How much better can they play, I mean, really,” Cocannouer said. The Wolves limited PC to just 49 yards of total offense, 21 of which came on a single play.
Ponder had 171 yards rushing in the first half alone, but the Wolves led just 15-0. Costly turnovers, and a stingy PC goal line defense allowed the game to be much closer than the score indicated.
Santa Fe’s first possession ended at the PC one-yard line after a stop on fourth down.
The Wolves did get on the board early in the second quarter, with a 19-yard touchdown run by Steve Sumpter, that was set up by a 42-yard jaunt by Ponder.
On Santa Fe’s next series they drove all the way to the PC 1-yard line, but a fumble ended that drive.
Sumpter scored on a 3-yard run, followed by a little trickery, as Jordan Mitchell took a pitch from the holder for the 2-point conversion, as the Wolves led 15-0 at the half.
And then things got ugly. Ponder scored a 3-yard touchdown on the Wolves first possession of the third, giving Santa Fe a 22-0 lead.
Then on PC’s next play from scrimmage, Willie Okwuonu got his second interception of the game, he returned this one 24-yards to the PC 11.
One play later quarterback Michael Hodges hooked up with Alex Hill for the touchdown. Robert Edge added the kick and it was 29-0.
Hodges would throw his second touchdown of the night late in the fourth on a two-yard pass to Mitchell.
Santa Fe lost four fumbles in the contest, but rushed for 325 yards, as Sumpter added 66 yards on the ground.
“My offensive line is doing a great job, I’m just the guy running through the holes,” Ponder said, after his performance.
Hodges passed for 126 yards in the game.
Cocannouer praised his offensive line after the contest.
“The year we went to the finals, the biggest thing we’ve talked about is the difference between our offensive and defensive lines. I’ll tell you what, this is about as close as we’ve come to it, in a long time. We’re excited about next week, I’m ready to get out there,” the head coach said.

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