Eagles breeze past Vikings in shortened outing

WEST TERRE HAUTE — In the only Wabash Valley high school football game to actually start playing on Friday night, West Vigo welcomed South Putnam for homecoming in a Western Indiana Conference Green Division matchup.

The predicted bad weather came through as scheduled, severely impacting play and causing a predictable number of turnovers and slippages.

In the end, South Putnam led 32-0 late in the second period when Jay Barrett Field lost power and the game was called at that point with the Eagles being declared the winners.

With the win, South Putnam improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the WIC. West Vigo fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.

West Vigo was stopped on downs on its opening drive, opting to go for a first down at its own 27 with a strong wind blowing in its face that would have likely made a punt to be ineffective.

South Putnam took over at the Viking 22, and sophomore running back Ty Benton scored easily on the first play just 2:30 into the game. Benton added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

The Vikings picked up a first down on their ensuing drive before punting, and the Eagles took over at their own 49.

On the third play from scrimmage, South Putnam quarterback Wyatt Mullin connected with Bransyn Ensor on a 57-yard TD pass -- with the blustery wind at his back -- for a 16-0 lead after Benton scored another conversion run.

Sophomore Keenan Mowery-Shields scored on a 6-yard TD run on the first play of the second period for a 24-0 lead, adding the conversion himself.

South Putnam's Damon Cox recovered a West Vigo fumble to end the ensuing drive, and the Eagles drove for their final score with Benton taking it in from six yards out with 7:32 left in the. half. He added his third conversion run of the game for a 32-0 lead.

Rain picked up throughout the game, and at this point the game looked as if it were being played in a car wash.

No one knows exactly how much time was left when the power went out, but everyone in the stadium quickly exited -- apparently, since it was pitch dark -- to get home as soon as possible.

Duke Energy's outage map showed 1,000 customers without power in the West Terre Haute area, including the flashing light on U.S. 40 where most traffic turns to go to the school.

West Vigo will play at North Putnam next Friday and South Putnam hosts Brown County as both teams will hope for weather more conducive to conducting outdoor athletic events.

South Putnam 16 16 -- 32

West Vigo 0 0 -- 0

SP -- Benton 22 run (Benton run)

SP -- Hanley 57 pass from Mullin (Benton run)

SP -- Mowery-Shields 6 run (Mowery-Shields run)

SP -- Benton 6 run (Benton run)

Next game -- West Vigo (2-4, 1-2 in WIC) plays at North Putnam on Friday. South Putnam (4-2, 2-1 in WIC) hosts Brown County on Friday.