Prep Football: Roseburg pummels Putnam 71-7 in nonleague game
The Roseburg Indians rolled to a historic 71-7 blowout win in the first-ever meeting with the Rex Putnam Kingsmen Friday at Finlay Field.
Roseburg (2-0) trailed 7-0 against Putnam (0-1) after the Kingsmen scored on their opening drive, but the Indians responded with 71-unanswered points to record the second-highest single-game point total in school history.
Coach Matt Watson said it was good to see his team taking advantage of opportunities.
“When we’re given an opportunity, we need to capitalize on that opportunity and get used to that and get comfortable with that,” Watson said. “The boys did a fantastic job cashing in tonight.”
The 64-point margin for victory is the fourth-largest in school history. Roseburg’s biggest winning margin came in a 75-0 win over Klamath Union in 1997. The Indians also beat K.U. 70-0 in 1983 and earned a 66-0 win over Myrtle Creek in 1921.
Putnam, which has now lost 29 consecutive games dating back 2022, started strong under first-year coach Michael Snyder. The Kingsmen marched all the way down to the Roseburg 9-yard line before sophomore quarterback Cooper Lemen appeared to throw an interception in the end zone.
A roughing the passer penalty against the Indians overturned the interception and two plays later Lemen connected with Dean Kost to put the Kingsmen in front.
The lead didn’t last long as Roseburg’s Caden Moon returned the ensuing kickoff 80-yards to even up the score.
“Putnam came down and punched us in the mouth and we had to take a step back. They go up 7-0 and it’s like ‘okay, Roseburg, how are we going to respond?’ and Caden Moon says I got you,” Watson said.
“(The kickoff return) was great. It was really important for the team and got the energy up,” Moon said. “Props to the guys for blocking so well. They made it easy for me. I really only had to beat one guy. They opened it up nicely for me.
Roseburg forced the Kingsmen into a turnover on downs and quickly took advantage of a short field. Two run plays by Leto White and the junior was across the goal line to give the Indians the lead for good.
Eli Rush and Oscar Kostner both had two rushing touchdowns to lead Roseburg’s offensive scoring attack. Rush totaled 83 yards on the ground, while Kostner tallied 74 yards.
In addition to Moon’s special teams touchdown, the Tribe also got a defensive score on a fumble recovery returned 57-yards by Kit Curry in the first quarter.
Roseburg has started the season 2-0 for the first time since 2021. The Indians will make their first road trip of the season with a nonleague game against the Bend Lava Bears at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Putnam;7;0;0;0;—;7
Roseburg;21;37;7;6;—;71
First Quarter
P — Kost 7 pass from Lemen (Lemen kick)
R — Moon 80 kickoff return (White kick)
R — White 28 run (White kick)
R — Curry 57 fumble recovery (White kick)
Second Quarter
R — Kostner 4 run (Fisk pass from White)
R — Moon 15 pass from Elliott (White kick)
R — Rush 42 run (White kick)
R — Elliott 3 run (Wertz pass from Moon)
R — Rush 19 run (White kick)
Third Quarter
R — Fisk 2 run (White kick)
Fourth Quarter
R — Kostner 3 run (Run fail)
