Heading into Friday night's clash between South Putnam and Greencastle, the series between the two teams was tied 17-17.
It was easy to see why as the two Putnam County rivals lit up the scoreboard at South Putnam's Wildman Field, combining for a total of 100 points in a game that was filled with emotions, penalties and turnovers all night.
When the dust settled, Greencastle walked away with not only county bragging rights, but the Putnam County Bucket, knocking off South Putnam, 51-49.
The game featured six combined turnovers and 23 total penalties.
For Greencastle coach Dave Stephens it is his first win in the series as coach of the Tiger Cubs, who improved to 2-2 on the year.
South Putnam falls to 3-1 on the season with the loss.
The win didn't come without plenty of fireworks, momentum changes and penalties in the final quarter.
Trailing 49-41 after Lamar Moore went 57 yards and the point-after-attempt failed, Greencastle's defense would come up huge on the ensuing South Putnam possession, forcing a fumble.
The Tiger Cubs would cash in, as kicker Ian Williamson belted a 43 yard field goal to trim the deficit to 49-45.
With under four minutes left, Greencastle would take over possession at its own 48 yard line.
What would ensure would be total chaos for both teams and bliss for the Tiger Cubs.
Greencastle would benefit from a facemask penalty against South Putnam as well as a huge pass from Owen Huff to Williamson for a 27 yard gain that would put the Tiger Cubs inside the red zone.
After an Aiden Beadles tackle for a loss, Stephens would hit a wide open Huff for a 13 yard touchdown. Williamson's point after attempt would lift the Tiger Cubs, 51-49.
After an explosive first half that featured plenty of fireworks and points, South Putnam appeared to find its footing and took advantage of numerous second half penalties and turnovers by Greencastle to gain early momentum.
Trailing 35-28 after Greencastle quarterback Cole Stephens hit Brendle Brennan for a 46 yard touchdown pass, the Eagles woke up their rushing attack and stepped up its defensive effort in the second half.
Drew Hill got South Putnam's defense going as he intercepted Stephens and minutes later running back Kolby Harcourt found the end zone, tying the game at 35-35.
The tie would be short lived as South Putnam's defense would again come up huge, as Keenan Mowery-Shields intercepted Stephens on fourth and three and raced back 46 yards to the end zone, giving the Eagles a commanding 42-35 lead.
The lead would swell to two touchdowns to open the fourth quarter, as Hartcourt took a handoff and raced 30 yards, giving South Putnam a 49-35 advantage.
The first half featured big play after big play, as both teams combined for 56 total points.
Greencastle would strike first as Lamar Moore took a handoff from Stephens and hit paydirt from 52 yards. The point after attempt was good, and the Tiger Cubs found themselves up 7-0 with 9:47 left in the first quarter. Moore would finish with 158 yards on 27 carries.
South Putnam would respond, thanks in part to three crucial penalties from Greencastle, who had 11 first half penalties. On first and goal from the Greencastle 4-yard line, South Putnam quarterback Wyatt Mullin called his own number, knotting the game at 7-7.
The tie would be short lived, however, as Greencastle took to the air for its next score.
On third and 11, Stephens drilled Brennan for an 89 yard strike that would put the Tiger Cubs ahead 14-7 with just under five minutes left in the first quarter. The Tiger Cubs would look to stretch the lead as they intercepted Mullin, but were unable to come up with any points.
South Putnam would make them pay, as Mullin redeemed himself with a 61 yard pitch and catch with Bransyn Hanley, who outraced the defense to the end zone, tying the game at 14-14.
Greencastle would cough the ball up again, as a fumble would be recovered by South Putnam, who again went to the air as Mullin hit Hayden Meredith for a 31-yard strike to put the Eagles ahead 21-14 with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
Greencastle's next touchdown would come thanks to its defense, who forced Mullin to fumble it away and Moore would find the end zone moments later, tying the game at 21-21.
Greencastle would extend its lead, as Ian Williamson found paydirt from 43 yards out, pushing the Tiger Cubs ahead 28-21.
However, South Putnam would not go away quietly in the first half, as Mullin hit Meredith for another touchdown to tie things up at 28-28.
After another turnover by Greencastle, South Putnam would look to take the lead into the locker room as they attempted a 34-yard field goal that would fail, sending both teams into the locker knotted 28-28.
Greencastle picked up 144 yards on the ground, while Stephens finished 13-of-23 for 283 yards and two interceptions through the air.
South Putnam finished with 134 yards on the ground, all coming by way of Harcourt who rushed 27 times.
Mullin was 18-of-32 for 229 yards and an interception through the air.
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