The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
High-powered Pirates retain Little Brown Jug
Perry racks up 563 yards on way to 3-0 start
Neither visiting Madison nor host Perry had much trouble getting back up for the second half of their storm-caused suspension of their rivalry matchup on a sunny Sept. 14.
After all, the Little Brown Jug was at stake.
Trailing, 35-21, to start the third quarter, Madison twice drew within one score, but Perry’s offense was relentless, and the Pirates pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 63-35 victory, their fifth consecutive in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug.
“It’s the Little Brown Jug,” Perry senior receiver Anthony Rosati said. “We’re always motivated to get it, and we’re glad we got it.”
Perry (3-0) took the opening kickoff and drove to the Madison 9, where the Blue Streaks’ Jacob Land picked off a Drew Schiano pass and returned it to the 45. After a pair of penalties and a pass completion, Austin McCourt scampered in from 32 yards out to make it 35-28.
Schiano directed the Pirates right back down the field, and cashed in this time with a 12yard scoring strike to Devon Holbert.
A huge kickoff return by Madison’s Marcel Welch put the Blue Streaks on the Perry 27.
Two plays later, QB Alex Dragas ran in from the 22 to again make it a one-possession game at 42-35.
But Perry was not to be stopped or even slowed on this day, and went on to score the game’s final three touchdowns-a 2-yard plunge by Jaylen Anderson, a 12-yard pass from Schiano to Matthew Sullivan, and an end zone recovery of a teammate’s fumble by Seann Norman.
The Pirates finished with 563 total yards on 25 first downs, and were perfect in converting five fourth downs. Schiano was 25 of 34 for 394 yards, Anderson had 216 total yards and 5 TDs, and Rosati caught 9 passes for 124 yards, several of which extended drives.
“We’re just getting more chemistry with our linemen, our quarterback and our receivers,” Anderson said. “We know what everyone wants to do and what everyone likes.”
Perry coach Matt Rosati was pleased that his team was able to win its fifth straight over its primary rival, especially with a layoff right in the middle, but still harbors some concerns with special teams play and the amount of penalties (12) his squad incurred.
“We had some motivating to do last night,” he said. “We didn’t play very well (on Sept. 13) at all. We challenged our guys to play better this afternoon. They stepped up and we did just enough to be able to win, but Madison is a really good team. It was 24 hours of torture (with the delay) to be honest.”
Madison (1-2) finished with 279 yards, led by Dragas, who passed for 74 and ran for 70. McCourt rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
“They have a few more skilled kids than we do, and that’s what it came down to,” Madison coach
Tim Willis said. “Our kids came and fought, and we were just a play or two away from being on the other end of this. (Perry) made plays when they had to make plays, in big situations.”
The Blue Streaks look to get back on track in WRC play, which starts Sept. 20 when they host South. “We want to win the league,” Willis said. “Which I believe we can do. We have good players, we just haven’t put it together yet. We just have to play one game at a
time, and the only thing we have to worry about right now is beating South.”
Perry is 3-0 with all three wins coming against bigger, WRC schools. Rosati promises his group will stay focused entering CVC Chagrin play, which begins on Sept. 20 with a trip to Edgewood.
“It’s not going to be real pleasant around here,” he said regarding upcoming practices. “We have a lot of work to do to be able to play high-quality teams.”