Call it a quirk in the schedule or the luck of the draw, but Southmoore had been able to play every game this season in the safe confines of Moore Stadium. No other area teams could make that same claim heading into week five of the season.

But sooner or later, the SaberCats were going to have to hit the road for the first time in the school’s history. That time came Friday when they traveled to Oklahoma City to face No. 8 Putnam City North.

The Panthers proved to be a poor host as they ripped through Southmoore 45-14 at Putnam City Stadium.

The group that seemed to be affected the most by the road trip was the Southmoore (2-3, 1-1) receiving corps. Whether it was the swirling winds or the new surroundings, they had their issues getting a grasp on the football.

“That didn’t affect the game as much as our fundamental technique in every aspect was poor,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “We didn’t tackle. We didn’t do the things we need to do to be successful.”

Coming off their only loss of the season to No. 2 Norman North, the Panthers were in no mood for any thoughts of an upset. They had their offense working at full speed from the opening kickoff.

The engine in the P.C. North offense was Josh Booker and Greg Lewis. The two tailbacks combined for 321 yards and neither believed in being tackled by one man. If there wasn’t a gang of Cats around them, they were running over players for extra yards.

But it was a 54-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Cavello that put the Panthers on the board in the first quarter. Lewis added a four-yard touchdown to put Putnam North up 14-0 in the first quarter.

The Cat’s were not as successful. Kendal Thompson wasn’t getting much time to sit back and survey the field for an open receiver. Every time he dropped back to pass the Panthers blitzed him.

And when Thompson did have the time, his receivers could not make the plays. Midway through the second quarter, the Cats attempted a reverse flea-flicker on fourth down. Kendal Thompson hit Derek Serowski in the endzone with one defender on him. The ball bounced off Serowski’s chest and the ball went back to the Panthers.

Putnam North turned around and went 60 yards for a touchdown and went up 21-0 with less than 5 minutes left in the first half.

The Panthers gave Southmoore plenty of opportunities to keep the contest close. Putnam North fumbled four times in the first half and recovered all of them. That included one in the endzone which led to Lewis busting up the middle of the Cat’s defense for a 79-yard scamper on 3rd-and-20. Three plays later, Booker scored from seven yards out.

Trailing by 28 in the second half, the Cats abandoned the run and dropped back to pass on almost every play. Even though Southmoore scored two touchdowns late, the game was wrapped up.

“We had a poor week of practice, and we played like we practiced,” Jensen said. “That is all I can tell you.”

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