Coming into Friday night's game between North Putnam and Cascade, Cascade coach Connor Simmons was worried about the play of North Putnam quarterback Christian Kramer.
In the end, his defense limited Kramer, but had an answer of its own in Toby Savini, who put on quite a show in the second half to lift Cascade to a 49-39 in over North Putnam, ruining homecoming for the Cougars.
Cascade improves to 4-2, while North Putnam drops to 1-5.
Trailing 25-21 after Kramer hit Paxton O'Brien for a 45 yard touchdown to put the Cougars ahead 25-21, Savini went to work.
He took a handoff and went 31 yards for a touchdown of his own, pushing Cascade back in front 28-25 with just under nine minutes remaining in the game.
Kramer would not be denied on North Putnam's next possession, as he marched the Cougars down the field and connected with Wesley Murphy on a five-yard touchdown to put North Putnam ahead 32-28 with five minutes remaining.
However, Savini would answer right back, taking the ensuing kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cadets a 35-32 advantage.
Cascade's lead would swell to 42-32 as North Putnam would cough the ball up with Lucas Farmer taking it away and taking it 40 yards the other way for a touchdown.
Again, despite the deficit, North Putnam would not go away quietly, as Kramer found an opening and scored from 13 yards out, cutting the deficit to 42-39 with 2:24 remaining.
Cascade would tack on one more down the stretch to secure the victory.
After forcing a pair of turnovers to open the game, Cascade's offense was able to strike first as quarterback Brady Trebley hooked up with Caiden Clements for a 52-yard strike and moments later, Trebley called his own number to put the Cadets ahead 7-0.
North Putnam would answer early in the second quarter, as Kramer used his legs to move the Cougars down the field and inside the end zone. A penalty by Cascade would allow North Putnam to go for two, which it failed to convert, finding themselves trailing 7-6.
Cascade would answer right back as Savini found a seam and went 34 yards for the end zone. The point after attempt pushed Cascade's advantage to 14-6.
The Cadets would look to stretch the lead right before the half, as Savini reeled in a 36-yard pass from Trebley, but Brogan Woodall would wrestle the ball away from Savini, eliminating the threat and sending both teams into the locker room with Cascade ahead 14-6.
The halftime break did little to stop Cascade, who marched down the field methodically as Trebley scampered 21 yards into the end zone on a quarterback keeper. The point after attempt stretched the lead to 21-6.
Despite the deficit and a series of penalty flags on its ensuing possession, North Putnam kept clawing back in the game on the legs on Braden Glaze.
The Cougars fed Glaze the football early and often on the drive and it paid off nicely, as he plowed ahead from a yard out, cutting the lead to 21-13.
After a long punt return from Brogan Woodall, North Putnam would find itself in great position on its next drive, which would prove to be beneficial as Kramer connected with Woodall for a 29 yard strike that resulted in a touchdown for North Putnam. Again, the Cougars would go for a two point conversion and fail, leaving the Cougars down 21-19.
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