Putnam City focused on getting healthy as district play starts

Putnam City's Desmond Tilly is close to returning to game action after suffering a preseason knee injury.

I had a chance to swing by Putnam City’s practice earlier this week, and you could tell Desmond Tilly was glad to have the pads on again. After spraining his LCL in the final preseason scrimmage, Tilly just got cleared to return to practice this week, and he might even get in the game Friday against US Grant.

It’s an encouraging sign for coach John Wofford, who will need Tilly’s contributions down the stretch if the Pirates are going to get to the postseason. PC played one game without any of its three starting linebackers. Elie Rushing has returned, and Tilly should certainly be back by the Del City game next week. But Reed Brooks is sidelined by a concussion, so it’s hard to project when he might get back on the field.

Two guys who have essentially stayed healthy have been QB Devin White and RB Casey Curtis, thankfully for the Pirates. Those two, along with a solid offensive line, have anchored an offense that is averaging 51.3 points per game so far.