The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Chances go awry, but Perry is eyeing return
NILES » Chances are the friend of the opportunistic and the foe of those who wish they had them back.
For Perry on Nov. 17 in a Division IV regional final against fellow unbeaten and northern Ohio power Steubenville, the Pirates were not lacking in chances and left everything to chance to seek a route back and make the mighty Big Red think just a little bit more.
Onside kicks, quicker reads, jet sweeps, jarring hits for turnovers.
Unfortunately, the route back is home this time — although Perry gave a fine accounting of itself in a 33-21 loss to bow out at 12-1 after making the D-IV final four last fall.
There’s something about the postgame scene after a loss that tells a great deal about the people involved.
They either handle adversity well or they don’t.
We’ll leave names out of it, but I remember one year at the state track and field meet, a 4x100meter relay member from a Greater Cleveland powerhouse was so angry about taking second she took off her silver medal once off the podium and promptly threw it in a garbage can.
Suffice to say, that’s not how to handle a moment.
So with that in mind, it was telling Nov. 17 watching junior linebacker and Perry multi-sport stand- out Cameron Rogers navigate through a sea of traveling faithful at Niles McKinley’s Bo Rein Stadium.
Amid a quiet gathering, Rogers was a beacon of optimism, telling one of his assistant coaches, “You’ve got me again next year,” and a fellow student he passed, “You can’t win every game.”
Perhaps that’s what matters most: After a final four for the first time in football in school history last fall and a 12-win campaign in 2017, Perry isn’t ready to be done.
The Pirates are eager to keep coming back — until the chance presents itself to reach their aspirations.
“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the team,” Rogers said of the last two postseason runs. “We did some great things. Obviously, we went 12-1. We did some good things. But next year, we’re going to come out and do what we need to do.
“It’s going to drive us to be the best we can possibly be. We don’t want to just come out and be down on us. We want to come out happy and put this ring on our finger hopefully.”
Josh Martin is hopeful they do. The senior wide receiver had a 53yard touchdown catch from Kolston Brewster early in the third quarter. It wound up as the 82nd and final offensive TD of the season for the Pirates.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to get to the ball at first,” Martin said. “But as soon as I got to it, I knew I had to jump up for it. So I jumped as high as I could. And then as soon as I got it, I just ran as fast as I could to an open spot.”
Chances are fleeting, and Martin knows there were a couple left on the table in the second half. After a fumble recovery, Perry drove to the 8 early in the fourth but couldn’t cash in, with Big Red recording a sack on fourth down.
Then there’s the opening kickoff Jaylen Anderson, the Pirates’ freshman sensation and son of former Harvey stalwart Walter Anderson, took 81 yards for a TD that was called back by a penalty.
Steubenville was tenacious on defense, giving Brewster little pocket time in the first half. But Perry responded with a quicker tempo and throws to give itself a chance.
Just not the chance to advance for which it was hoping — but the Pirates will keep seeking the chance until it pays off.
“It’s just perseverance,” Martin said of the key to returning to this level. “We were right here last year. We’re right here right now. You’ve just got to keep pushing.
“Our team chemistry has been great and greater every single year. But we’ll get there.”
Lillstrung can be reached at CLillstrung@NewsHerald.com; on Twitter: @CLillstrungNH