Jeff Harrison
WARR ACRES — There was nothing at stake for Edmond Memorial on Friday night, but apparently they didn’t get the message. The Memorial defense pitched their second straight shutout and D’Juan Brooks ran all over Putnam City as the Bulldogs (7-3, 6-1) closed out the regular season with a 15-0 win at Putnam City Stadium.
“We were in the same situation last year, but last year we came out flat and they ended up beating us ,” senior linebacker Adrian Shoecraft said. “We wanted to go into the playoffs on a win and we had a good week in practice and it showed tonight.”
Brooks, who was sidelined half the season with a knee injury, made the most of his opportunity against the Pirates. When Cale Olbert left the game with an injury in the first quarter, Brooks was ready. The senior rushed 29 times for 171 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season.
“I was just excited to come back and play, Cale Olbert got hurt so I figured they put me in I better get in and do my job,” Brooks said.
That lone touchdown was well deserved. Brooks rushed eight times for 71 yards in the drive, finally cashing in with a one-yard plunge on a fourth-and-goal with 8:28 left in the game.
“I’ve been dying to get a touchdown all season and I was just was just determined that I was going to get a touchdown and achieved my goal,” Brooks said.
The Pirates never found much room to run against the ‘Dogs defense, which has held their opponents scoreless for 10 consecutive quarters. Putnam City (3-7, 2-5) racked up just 148 yards of total offense.
“We’re coming to expect that from those guys because they work hard and our defensive coaches teach technique so well,” Memorial coach Justin Merideth said.
Will Conant also got a chance to show off his leg as he booted a pair of long field goals in the second half. The junior connected from 40-yards out in the third quarter and rounded the scoring with a 47-yarder with 34 seconds left in the game.
“It’s really nice having that weapon where we know if we’re down on the 30 that we don’t have to go for it,” Merideth said. “And he kicked two big ones tonight.”
Memorial’s defense was responsible for the only points of the first half. After seeing their first two possession end with punts, the ‘Dogs began to click in their third attempt. But their hopes to getting into the end zone were dash when Dalinte’ Johnson made a diving grab to pick off Kameron Doolittle’s pass on the three.
Jordan Marcezewski helped Memorial make the most of the situation as he dragged Caleb Lee to turf for a safety with 53 seconds left in the first.
The ‘Dogs looked to add to that lead on their next series. Memorial again moved the ball deep inside Pirate territory, but a fumbled snap led to an unsuccessful 32-yard field goal try by Conant with 7:17 left in the half.
Defense was again the story in the third quarter as Shoecraft intercepted a pass on the Putnam City 27 yard line. Memorial couldn’t get anything going on offense and had to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Conant that made it a 5-0 game with 4:51 in the third.
The in the fourth quarter it was Brooks pushing the lead to a dozen with one-yard run on fourth-and-goal. Conant later added his second field goal of the night to make it a 15-0 final.
Memorial will be back in action next week for the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. The ‘Dogs will be in for a tough one as they host Mustang at Wantland Stadium.
