There is an old adage that big-time players make big plays when their teams need them most.

That was the case Friday for the Sandy Creek Patriots, who relied on five upperclassmen to make game-changing plays in a 24-17 overtime victory over the East Coweta Indians in the teams' season-opening non-region game at The Battlefield in Tyrone.

Three upperclassmen made key plays that helped Creek earn the victory: senior quarterback Rio Johnson had a 49-yard touchdown run and made a two-point conversion; senior defensive end Brandon Putnam recovered a fumble that set up Creek’s game-tying field goal; and junior Zach Lopez kicked three field goals.

The biggest plays, though, were made by two other upperclassmen, senior safety Russell Bonner and senior cornerback Julian Holmes, whose interception off a tipped pass by Bonner in Creek's end zone in overtime sealed the victory.

Holmes’ interception ruined Clint Wade’s debut as East Coweta’s head coach.

"Good players make big plays," Creek coach Chip Walker said. "Rio, Brandon, 'JuJu' (Julian Holmes), Lopez and others stepped up and made plays that were the difference. They are the guys who have been playing for a while and getting it done for us."

It was a dramatic finish for a game that featured two perennial playoff teams; entering this season, Creek has made the playoffs six consecutive seasons and East Coweta has advanced to the postseason 10 consecutive seasons.

The first game-altering play turned in by a Creek senior occurred with the scored tied at 14 and the final minutes rapidly ticking off the clock. Putnam, who wreaked havoc all night, recovered a botched hand-off by East Coweta, handing the Patriots the ball at the Indians’ 9 — and a prime scoring opportunity.

Creek was looking to score a go-ahead touchdown, but East Coweta’s defense stiffened, and Creek settled for a 19-yard field goal by Lopez with 27.6 seconds remaining.

The Indians gave Creek the opportunity to kick the game-tying field goal by calling their final timeout, a questionable move considering Creek was out of timeouts.

Just when it seemed as though Creek would cling to the lead and pull out the victory in regulation, quarterback Mac McKnight marched the Indians, starting from their own 35-yard line, down the the field.

McKnight completed passes of 13, 9 and 18 yards to wide receiver Jeric Woodall along the left sideline against Creek’s prevent defense, advancing the ball to the Creek 25.

Then East Coweta kicker Tyler Willis trotted onto the field and kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime.

The Patriots received the ball first in overtime, and Johnson called his own number on their first play, taking off on a naked bootleg and, following a devastating block by big, bruising fullback Alex Green, reaching the East Coweta 2.

Green leaped into the end zone on the next play to make it 23-17.

Three plays later, Holmes, as he was falling to the turf, ended the game by intercepting McKnight’s fade pass intended for Woodall after Bonner tipped it with his left hand in the left corner of Creek's end zone.

East Coweta opened the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown pass from McKnight to Woodall that capped a five-play, 78-yard, two-minute drive on the first possession of the game.

Creek reached the East Coweta 18 on its first series, but three consecutive penalties set back the Patriots, who ended up settling for a school-record 47-yard field goal by Lopez.

The Patriots again went deep into East Coweta territory on their next drive, but they had to settle for another field goal, a 35-yarder by Lopez that made it 7-6.

Johnson pulled Creek in front with a dazzling play with 1:59 left in the third quarter on which he side-stepped a defender in the open field after busting through the middle of the line and turned on the jets for a 49-yard touchdown run.

Utilizing his speed once again, Johnson turned the corner off right tackle and dove into the end zone on a naked bootleg for the two-point conversion.

East Coweta caught a big break on the first play of the fourth quarter when Creek’s Devon Hughes fumbled a punt and Michael Horner recovered at the Creek 30.

The Indians capitalized, with running back Tay Willis diving over the line for a 1-yard touchdown four plays later to tie the game at 14.

Aside from the two touchdowns it allowed, Creek’s defense was stout, especially in the second half.

"Our defense played great," Walker said. "East Coweta came out and showed us some things that they didn't show when we saw them in their scrimmage against Starr's Mill. They caught us off-guard. But, after their first drive, we adjusted and played well defensively."

Senior middle linebacker Matt Solomon (a team-high 14 total tackles, one for loss) and Bonner (11 total tackles, one fumble recovery, one pass defensed) were disruptive forces for Creek.

East Coweta’s defense almost was equally tough; the Indians came through with two big plays in the fourth quarter — a host of East Coweta defensive players stuffed Creek running back Rajion Neal on a fourth-and-2, and, on Creek’s next drive, East Coweta’s MaDerrius Robinson intercepted a Johnson pass.

Penalties cost both teams. Each had a touchdown nullified by a holding penalty in the second quarter: a 40-yard pass from Johnson to Jarrett Davis and a 60-yard run by Willis.

Penalties were a significant problem all night for Creek -- it had 10 total -- consistently bogging down its offense. But the Patriots still managed to finish with 262 total yards of offense (205 rushing, 57 passing).

Neal led all rushers with 96 yards on 21 carries (a 4.6-yard average).

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