Del City rallies to force OT, extends streak
Putnam North quarterback Carson Laverty had a golden opportunity with the game on the line.
Facing a fourth-and-goal from the Del City 22 in overtime, Putnam North receiver Reece Moffett had one-on-one coverage with defensive back Jaylin Sweet on a fly route.
Laverty noticed it right away. And after tossing it in their direction, it was anyone's ball.
But Sweet made sure there wouldn't be a game-winning touchdown on his watch. The junior leaped and met Moffett in the air before hauling in the interception. He didn't hold onto it long. As Sweet's teammates swarmed him, he threw it in the air as the Eagles celebrated yet another triumph.
Del City earned a 20-14 victory at Putnam North on Thursday night, extending its win streak to six games.
Del City (6-1, 4-0 District 6A-II-1) was held scoreless for the first three quarters, but quarterback Virgil Yates ran for three touchdowns — two in the fourth and one in overtime — to help his team top the Panthers (3-4, 1-3).
“We've been playing in some big games,” Del City coach Robert Jones said. “We played Bishop McGuinness, Carl Albert, Stillwater, Midwest City. This was a trap game I felt. I felt all week they're a lot better than what their record is.”
Del City didn't score until a 29-yard touchdown run by Yates with 11:51 left. After a successful extra-point attempt, the game was tied at 7.
Yates, who finished with 26 carries for 126 yards, scored on 1-yard run with 4:15 remaining, and Del City took a 14-7 lead.
It took some time for the Del City offense to get going, but it certainly broke through in the fourth.
Jones credits the Eagles' late surge to their conditioning program.
“We condition before practice, and then we go out and have a two-and-ahalf-hour practice after conditioning,” he said. “We knew any time we could get into the fourth quarter or into late in the second half against a team, we know that our strength is going to be overcoming that and overpowering them.”
Laverty scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown with 2:02 left as Putnam North tied it at 14.
That score carried into overtime, which began with Del City receiving the ball on the Putnam North 10. Yates had two runs in the extra period and scored on a 1-yard carry.
Oklahoma State commit Jaleel Johnson blocked the extra-point attempt, a huge play that resulted in Putnam North only needing a touchdown a successful kick for the win.
But Del City's stout defense shined when Putnam North took the field. The Eagles got two sacks and forced an incompletion before Sweet sealed the victory with his interception.
When Laverty threw it his way, Sweet remained focused and poised.
“See ball, get ball to be honest,” Sweet said of what was going through his mind. “Just play that Eagle defense and be a dog.”
Overall, the Del City defense was outstanding, and it all started with its dominant defensive line, which is led by Jaedon Foreman, Darius Hampton and David Stone.
They set the tone, but the Eagles had several other defensive players make big contributions, including Sweet.