Edgewood edges South Putnam 31–30 in double-OT thriller

Since 2020, the Edgewood High School football team has been struggling. Four consecutive seasons the Mustangs finished the regular season with a 2-8 record.

But coming into this season, third-year head coach Scott Fischer knew that this team could be something different. Edgewood returned nearly all of last year’s starters.

“The program’s been down the past couple of years,” Fischer said. “We’ve really been trying to change the culture here. These kids have worked their butts off.”

The Mustangs have put their coach’s hope into action on the field. Edgewood shut out Mitchell High School 38-0 in Week 1 and defeated South Spencer High School 49-12 the following week. So entering a Week 3 showdown against an undefeated South Putnam High School squad, the Mustangs had a lot of pressure on them.

That pressure would build throughout Friday’s game. Edgewood trailed the Eagles, 21-24, with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs did not falter as they drove down the field to set up junior kicker Kade Gilchrist for the tying field goal.

But Edgewood had to make another comeback—in double overtime.

Both teams failed to score in the first overtime period. On their second possession, South Putnam scored a touchdown, but did not make the two-point conversion. When it was their turn, Mustang junior quarterback Braylon Linerode found senior wide receiver Jaxton Collier just inside the goal line for the game-tying touchdown.

A clutch Gilchrist extra point gave Edgewood the win, providing the Mustangs with the final one-point margin in their 31-30 victory.

“It’s easy to win when you have faith,” Fischer said. “You got to have faith in something you don’t necessarily see. Now, [the team] has actually seen it. Now they can believe. The big thing is that we want them to believe in themselves, believe in their ability to overcome adversity, that they stay together 48 minutes, and they can win.”

Linerode finished the game completing 11 out of his 19 attempts for 116 yards and a pair of a touchdowns and an interception. Edgewood got most of its offense from junior running back Braxton Carpenter. Battling an injury, Carpenter carried the ball 30 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

First half

Edgewood started the game off strong. The Mustangs junior defensive lineman Lincoln Getts sacked South Putnam junior quarterback Drew Cline on third-and-long. The Eagles trotted their punt unit onto the field, but a miscommunication on the sideline gave Edgewood a chance.

The Mustangs blocked the punt attempt and recovered the ball in the end zone to go up 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest.

The defense for Edgewood stayed hot as they produced another three-and-out, but South Putnam managed to get the punt away this time. Runs by Carpenter and small yardage completions by Linerode moved Edgewood on a 12-play, 53-yard drive. The Mustangs finished the possession in the endzone after Carpenter scored standing up to increase Edgewood’s lead to 14-0.

“They displayed a lot of toughness and grit tonight against a very, very good football team,” Fischer said. “South Putnam has got tremendous athletes, a great offensive line. They had a couple kids get hurt, and I hope those kids are healthy.”

South Putnam would finally see their first offensive momentum to close out the first quarter. Junior running back Ty Benton found a hole for a 48-yard rush with zeros showing on the clock. A couple plays later, Cline was looking to find an open receiver in the end zone, but got hit letting go of the pass. That sent the ball into the hands of Edgewood senior linebacker Gunnar Perry for an interception.

Linerode found sophomore running back Eli Lirot for a 32-yard completion, but the Mustangs had to punt inside South Putnam’s 40-yard line.

When South Putnam took over, Benton found another opening in the Edgewood defense for 36 yards. Cline then found senior wide receiver Khalil Jefferson twice, for 10-yard and 27-yard receptions. The Eagles would put their first points on the scoreboard on junior running back Brier Cook’s two-yard rush. But the two-point conversion attempt failed. That meant Edgewood’s lead was cut to 14-6.

Both teams could not create any more offense before halftime, and heading into the locker room stayed on the 8-point margin for the Mustangs.

Second half

Edgewood started the third quarter with a three-and-out.

South Putnam capitalized on the opportunity. Cline connected with senior wide receiver Hayden Tincher for 38 yards before Cline finished the drive with a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Another failed two-point conversion made the score 14-12, still favoring Edgewood.

The Mustangs needed to answer and quickly. Their response came on the very next drive. Starting on their own 44-yard line, the Mustangs ran behind Carpenter. He picked up small gains before breaking out a 32-yard rush that got him to the 1-yard line. Carpenter finished out the drive and put Edgewood up 21-12.

Not a lot of offense from either team opened up the fourth quarter. Edgewood had a chance for a 26-yard field goal, but South Putnam was able to get a hand up to block the kick.

The Eagles tried to get their offense going on the ensuing drive. Cook gained 11 yards, but a fumble four plays later stopped any momentum. Just three plays later, South Putnam got the ball back as sophomore defensive back Wyatt Thomas intercepted Linerode.

The Eagles struck quickly as Cline found Jefferson for a 42-yard touchdown. For the South Putnam special teams, it was another failed two-point conversion, after a penalty backed them up, but South Putnam had closed the gap to 21-18.

After scoring, the Eagles tried something different—an onside kick. The gamble worked as the ball bounced off on one of the Edgewood players, and South Putnam was able to make the recovery.

That set up the Eagles in plus territory. It did not take them long before Cline was back into the endzone with a quarterback keeper from 1-yard out. A fumbled snap meant a failed extra point attempt, but South Putnam led for the first time 24-21.

With only 1:30 left on the clock, down 3 points, Edgewood needed a miracle. The drive did not start off well when Linerode was sacked on first down. He redeemed himself by scrambling for 13 yards on the next play. Then, Linerode found sophomore wide receiver William Hosey for 37 yards to set the Mustangs up inside the red zone.

With just seconds on the clock Edgewood decided to bring on Gilchrist to try to make up the 3-point deficit with a field goal. Gilchrist did his job as time almost expired to tie the game at 24-24 and send the contest into overtime.

“[Gilchrist] has been fantastic for us,” Fischer said. “He’s one of the best soccer players in the area. He’s banged up and beat up, played in like eight games in the last 10 days. We let him take a nap today after school instead of coming to the team meal, and now we told him he could take that nap every Friday.”

Overtime

In overtime each possession starts at the opponent’s 10-yard line, with four downs to score. Edgewood got the ball first, but could only muster six yards in three plays. Gilchrist stepped onto the field for a 21-yard field goal, but South Putnam was able to block the attempt.

On their first chance in overtime, the Eagles were able to advance to the 3-yard line in their first three plays. On fourth down, South Putnam drew up a misdirection, but the pass fell incomplete, which pushed the game into double overtime.

In the second overtime period, the Eagles started with the ball. They were able to score on their second play when sophomore running back Kason Ames ran the ball in from four yards out. South Putnam tried yet another two-point conversion, but that attempt was also unsuccessful.

When it was their turn in the second overtime, Edgewood could only manage five yards in their first three plays. The Mustangs were staring at fourth and 5. Linerode dropped back and connected with Collier on a quick slant just over the goal line to tie the game at 30-30. South Putnam tried to ice Gilchrist, by calling a timeout, but the kicker knocked the ball through the uprights and was mobbed by Mustang players and fans.

“It was an enormous catch [by Jaxton Collier],” Fischer said. “He drew the pass interference before the play. He’s had a lot of injuries and he’s had to overcome a devastating shoulder injury. To see it pay off tonight with a big touchdown catch for him, I couldn’t be more happy for the young man.”

Edgewood (3-0) will travel to Spencer next week to take on Owen Valley High School at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

“We’re just continuing to get better,” Fischer said. “We left a lot of plays out on the field tonight. We also made a lot. We made some mistakes, but as long as we continue to improve and just stick with the process. One game at a time, and then get ready for sectionals.”

Video highlights

Edgewood running back Braxton Carpenter with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Kade Gilchrist PAT.

Edgewood 14, South Putnam 0 - 1Q 2:10@bsquarebulletin @IndianaPreps pic.twitter.com/isY2mRW1tn

— Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07) September 5, 2025

Edgewood running back Braxton Carpenter with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Kade Gilchrist PAT.

Edgewood 21, South Putnam 12 - 3Q 2:30@bsquarebulletin @IndianaPreps pic.twitter.com/vruAOsDHzb

— Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07) September 6, 2025

Edgewood kicker Kade Gilchrist with a 24-yard field goal.

Edgewood 24, South Putnam 24 - 4Q 0:08@bsquarebulletin @IndianaPreps pic.twitter.com/ciUQOPGSSN

— Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07) September 6, 2025

An incomplete pass for South Putnam on fourth down keeps this game alive.

Edgewood 24, South Putnam 24 - OT@bsquarebulletin @IndianaPreps pic.twitter.com/j93ul8pX7K

— Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07) September 6, 2025

FINAL/OT

Edgewood quarterback Braylon Linerode finds wide receiver Jaxton Collier for a 5-yard touchdown. Kade Gilchrist PAT.

Edgewood 31, South Putnam 30@bsquarebulletin @IndianaPreps pic.twitter.com/XlVKvsfoBJ

— Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07) September 6, 2025

Photos