A week ago, Greencastle held off North Putnam 17-9 in the regular season finale to claim bragging rights, the county championship, the Putnam County Bucket and the Western Indiana Conference Green Division title. 

On Friday, in far better conditions, the two put on quite a show for fans at North Putnam in the opening round of the Class 2A Sectional 37 tournament. However, when the dust settled, it was the Tiger Cubs again escaping with a 30-29 come from behind win. 

"Survive and advance," Greencastle head coach Dave Stephens told The Putnam County Post after the win. 

The win is the eighth in a row for Greencastle, who advance to a second round date with Linton-Stockton (9-1), who knocked off North Knox, 48-14.

North Putnam's season ends at 3-7. 

Trailing 29-27 with 8:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, Greencastle methodically moved the ball down the field on the legs of Owen Huff and Lamar Moore to set up a 35-yard field goal attempt from Ian Williamson. With 2:47 remaining in regulation, Williamson drilled the field goal, putting the Tiger Cubs up 30-29 for a lead they would not relinquish. 

Greencastle's defense would hold on North Putnam's ensuing possession, forcing the Cougars to throw three straight incomplete passes to turn it over on downs and allow Greencastle to run out the clock for the win. 

The last minute heroics summed up how the back and forth battle went all night between the two teams. 

Greencastle opened the game with Moore taking a handoff and going 37 yards to the end zone in a span of eight seconds, as the Tiger Cubs went ahead 7-0. 

North Putnam would answer right back, as Brogan Woodall intercepted Greencastle quarterback Cole Stephens and then North Putnam quarterback Christian Kramer went to work, picking Greencastle apart on the ground. However, it was the arm of Kramer that was the difference, as he hit Wes Murphy for a 24-yard touchdown. On the point-after-attempt, Greencastle jumped offsides and North Putnam opted to go for two, which it converted, moving ahead 8-7 with 2:58 remaining in the opening frame. 

The score would stay 8-7 until late in the second quarter when Kramer found pay dirt from a yard out with just over three minutes remaining in the half, giving the Cougars a 15-7 lead.

Greencastle would answer right back moments later, as a 30-yard pass play from Stephens to Brayden Monroe set up a five yard touchdown run by Moore. The two point conversion failed, leaving the Tiger Cubs trailing 15-13 at the half. 

In the first half, Greencastle only ran 19 plays compared to 39 for North Putnam. 

Whatever coach Stephens said at the half to his team resonated, as the Tiger Cubs took the second half kickoff and went to work. Stephens hit Monroe for a 35-yard gain to open the second half for the Tiger Cubs, who benefitted from a personal foul facemask call against North Putnam to set up another Moore touchdown, this time from two yards out to put Greencastle ahead 20-15.

North Putnam would not go away quietly, as the Cougars again went to a ground attack on the legs of Kramer, who punched it in to put North Putnam back ahead 22-20 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. 

Greencastle fired right back moments later, as Moore took a handoff from Stephens and scored from two yards out, putting the Tiger Cubs ahead 27-22 to go into the fourth quarter. 

With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, North Putnam took over at its own three yard line and got a huge pass play from Kramer to Brogan Woodall for 40 yards to set up a Kramer touchdown, giving the Cougars a 29-27 lead and capping a 93-yard drive. 

In the win, Greencastle rushed for 244 total yards, and got a huge game out of Moore, who rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns. Stephens was 7-of-14 for 116 yards and two interceptions. 

North Putnam, on the other hand, amassed 219 yards on the ground, with Kramer accounting for 30 carries for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Kramer was 14-of-27 for 147 yards and a touchdown through the air.