FB 2A SECT. 30: Late INT lifts #3 Monrovia past #15 North Putnam, 7-6

ROACHDALE – In a season from a fairy tale, Class 2A third-ranked Monrovia found yet another way to pull it out Nov. 6 when a 95-yard interception return in the fourth quarter thwarted No. 15 host North Putnam’s upset bid, 7-6, in the Sectional 30 championship.

 

North Putnam took control of the game early, forcing Monrovia (12-0) to turn over the ball on downs after marching to the Cougars’ 23. 

The hosts then roared down the field in seven plays, paced by sophomore quarterback Kolten Everts’ 34-yard keeper around the left side. That set up fellow sophomore Hank Spencer for a two-yard touchdown plunge and an early 6-0 lead. 

Due to an injury to their kicker, the Cougars (9-3) attempted a two-point conversion that failed. It would come back to haunt them.

 

The score remained 6-0 through three quarters, but North Putnam was moving toward another score with 10 minutes remaining in game when Everts rolled out to his right and looked for his sophomore tight end Hunter Logan. The ball ricocheted off Logan and was intercepted at the 5-yard line by Monrovia senior Grant Watson. 

Watson raced down the sideline for a 95-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6-6. Senior kicker Dean Reeves booted the extra point for the final 7-6 margin of victory.

“I was just thinking that no one was going to stop me, and I was going to the house,” Watson said. “I saw Zane (Shuee) and Tim (Connor) coming down pretty quick with me.

“I got some good blocks and ran it back for a touchdown.”

Monrovia, which celebrates its first sectional win in 20 years, now prepares to host top-ranked Indianapolis Ritter (11-1) in next week’s regional action.

South Putnam 33, South Vermillion 28

#3 Monrovia 53, Cloverdale 0 

Tri-West Hendricks 7, Greencastle 2 

#15 North Putnam 40, Cascade 0

#3 Monrovia 6, South Putnam 3 (OT) 

#15 North Putnam 4, Tri-West Hendricks 0

#3 Monrovia 7, #15 North Putnam 6

The box score:

Monrovia 0 0 0 7 – 7

North Putnam 6 0 0 0 – 6

NP – Hank Spencer 2 run (pass failed)

M – Grant Watson 95 interception return (Dean Reeves kick)

M NP

First Downs 10 11

Rushes-Yards 46-162 31-155

Passing Yards 37 59

Comp-Att-Int 2-4-0 6-14-1

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0

Penalties-Yards 1-16 1-15

Rushing

Monrovia: Jake Hadley 18-62, Austin Parks 11-50, Garrett Johnson 12-39, Dalton Clements 1-10, Tim Connor 4-1

North Putnam: Kolten Everts 10-83, Hank Spencer 16-62, Travis Kraft 2-9, Darr Boruff 3-1

Passing

Monrovia: Tim Connor 1-3-0 40, Austin Parks 1-1-0 (minus-3)

North Putnam: Kolten Everts 6-14-1 59

Receiving

Monrovia: Caleb Vondersaar 1-18, Kyle Adams 2-16, Darr Boruff 1-15, Travis Kraft 1-7, Hank Spencer 1-3

North Putnam: n/a