The Perryville Pirates offense took control early Friday night in a dominant 63-6 win over Grandview.
With a halftime score of 63-0, the Pirates were able to put in freshman and junior varsity players for the entire second half, which was shortened to eight minute quarters with a running clock.
Perryville scored five touchdowns in the first quarter; a one-yard rush from Dawson Wolk, an Xzyavier Wilson punt return, a Jasper Burress-Johnson four-yard rush, a Lucas Bechheit 37-yard keeper, and a Bucheitt pass to Joshua Gremaud.
Another four followed in the second quarter; a 53-yard Adrian Mendoza rush, a 19-yard Korbin Rollett rush which was set up when the defense recovered a fumble at the 19-yard line, an 11-yard Buchheit pass to Wilson, and a 26-yard rush from Bryce Weber after Gaige Robins recovered a Grandview fumble at the 26-yard line.
In the shortened second half, the freshman and junior varsity offense was unable to add any more points, but the defense held strong, only allowing one score from the Grandview varsity offense, a short rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
In total, nine different Perryville players totaled rushing yards, the most in a game this season. Adrian Mendoza led the way with 79 yards on just two carries.
The defense had an exceptional game as well, totaling 19 tackles for loss and forcing five fumbles, recovering four.
Perryville coach Brent Roth said it is important for his team to stay focused on playing their best even and not getting lazy when the score is so lopsided early on.
“You should never go into a game or step on that field and not give your full effort,” Roth said. “We never want to practice having sympathy or taking it easy or playing less hard. I just made sure the guys understood that. It is our job as coaches to kind of rain the dogs back if you will. Their job is to play to the best of their ability when their time is called.”
Roth was able to put in younger players in the second half with a 63 point lead at halftime, something he said is very valuable for their future and the team’s future.
“I think it’s exciting for them to begin with, just to be in front of the fans and be out there,” Roth said. “When their time comes, the more snaps you can get at the varsity level and just kind of see that speed helps prepare them for the future. Some of the programs that have continued success year after year, I think that’s a big part of it.
“You look at a program like Valle and some of the big wins that they get, those freshmen and sophomores, by the time it’s their turn to start, they’ve played a half a season of varsity football already, just getting in those third and fourth quarters. It definitely helps the longevity of your program preparing those young guys for when their time comes. They’ll have that experience and have seen it.”
With Perryville now back to having a winning record at 3-2, the Pirates have four games remaining before the state tournament begins at the end of October. Roth said the final four games will be interesting tests for how prepared they will be for playoff competition.
“It’s been an interesting beginning of the year,” he said. “A little up and down for us and we are still trying to kind of figure out who we are and moving people around and things like that. As we roll into the second half of the season here, the last four games on our schedule are going to be good match ups. You know it seems like all of them are going to be a toss-up game. You know we don’t have to look at is this team good or bad. You just gotta go out and win football games and start preparing for the playoffs.”
Perryville will play on the road this Friday night at Jefferson. Kickoff in Festus is scheduled for 7 p.m.
