Eric Spruill
Michael Hodges passed for four touchdowns, while Steven Sumpter added two more on the ground, as Santa Fe rolled to a 56-0 win over Putnam City West at Wantland Stadium on Friday night.
The No. 6-ranked Wolves struggled at the start going 3-and out on its first possession. But it didn’t take long before the offense got rolling.
Santa Fe benefited from a great punt-return game with Willie Okwounu and Sumpter returns giving the Wolves prime field position the entire night.
On Santa Fe’s second possession, the Wolves didn’t get a single yard on its first two plays. But on 3rd-and-10 from the PC West 39-yard line, Hodges connected with Jordan Mitchell for a 39-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
The Wolves next touchdown drive went only 37 yards, as it was finished off with a six-yard touchdown run from Sumpter, as Santa Fe built a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Midway through the second, Hodges found Alex Hill for a 14-yard touchdown pass. And exactly three minutes later, Hill was on the receiving end of a 37-yard bomb from Hodges, Hill’s fourth receiving touchdown of the year.
Santa Fe’s defense hounded dual-threat quarterback Daniel Farrow all night, limiting the junior to just 43 rushing yards on the night, and a measly 15 yards through the air.
In the third quarter, Hodges started things off with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Randy Ponder — Santa Fe’s leading rusher, 12 carries, 84 yards — giving the Wolves a 35-0 lead, with 8:34 remaining.
Sumpter scored the final touchdown for the Wolves’ starters with a 55-yard jaunt to put the game out of hand.
But that really didn’t stop the Wolves’ onslaught.
Backup quarterback Will Long came in and scored on a 13-yard run late in the third, and Brandon Reece scored on a 14-yard run midway through the fourth.
Hodges went 9-of-16 for 113 yards and four touchdowns in the win. He now has seven touchdown passes on the year.
Santa Fe will get a strong test next Thursday night in their first district contest of the season, as they host Mustang.
