The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Pirates paste rout on rival Streaks
Led by a nearly perfect night from junior quarterback Drew Schiano and four turnovers by their defense, visiting Perry (2-1) captured the Little Brown Jug with an emotional 38-6 victory over rival Madison (2-1) at Dick Hamblin Field on Sept. 7.
The victory was big for the Pirates, who were coming off a tough overtime loss to Chardon on the field and a loss off the field as Perry teacher Brandy Seigel lost her battle with ALS earlier this week.
The Pirates jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when senior standout Jacob Allen took a handoff seven yards to paydirt after the Perry defense intercepted a Madison fake punt attempt that set the Pirates up inside Blue Streak territory.
Allen struck again minutes later when Schiano found him for a 19-yard touchdown connection that extended the Perry lead to 14-0 just eight minutes in.
Another big play by the Pirates’ defense helped extend the lead to 17-0 in the first quarter before the Blue Streaks struck back. Trailing big, junior quarterback Alex Dragas read the defensive end perfectly before taking a read option play 58 yards untouched for a Madison touchdown that made the score 17-6 late in the first quarter. their first possession of the second half when Schiano found Jake Reid for a touchdown pass that capped off an 80-yard drive and extended the lead to 31-6.
Reid found the end zone on defense late in the third when he intercepted a Blue Streaks pass and took it to the house to make it 38-6 Perry.
Top players
Schiano finished 15-for-16 for 261 yards and two scores for the Pirates, and Allen and Reid added two scores apiece. For the Blue Streaks, Dragas had 108 total yards and a score and Dom Conforte pitched in with 33 yards on the ground.
Stat attack
The Perry defense was crucial in their victory as they forced four turnovers that resulted in 17 points.
They said it
PERRY COACH MATT ROSATI » “I’m proud of our kids tonight. It was a very big football game, and we had to win. They played hard and played for Brandy Siegel, their teacher, and the founding father of our football program, Coach Ritley. Our No. 1 goal was to play hard for our community on a day where we mourn our loss. This is for the Seigel family and Ritley family, and we celebrate for them.” SCHIANO » “I’ve got a great line that can hold their blocks and play makers on the outside. I feel like I can throw to anyone I want to. We got separation because they were worried about our vertical game and we had the quick hit open.” MADISON COACH TIM WILLIS » “We didn’t play very good obviously. They beat us, and there is no other way to say it. We didn’t respond very well when things didn’t go our way and things started to snowball. I told our team one week doesn’t define us and hopefully we can bounce back next week.”
What’s next
Perry welcomes Chagrin Falls, while Madison will travel to South.