Special teams helped spark Perry to a win last week.
Special teams helped spark Perry to a win this week.
In particular, Davion Ross. Ross had two long runs for touchdowns on kickoffs against Harris County. Friday at home in the Panthers’ 31-20 win over Veterans, Ross blocked a punt attempt and returned it 34 yards for the score.
Considering the fact the Panthers at that point had gone three-and-out on their first four possessions – less than 50 yards of total offense, and only two first downs, in the first half – it was plenty significant.
In fact, Perry – trailing 14-6 at the time due to two Warhawk scores and its own point after attempt hitting the uprights – forced Veterans to punt on its next possession and then put together a quick drive of 65 yards for its second score. It was capped off by a 10-yard pass from freshman quarterback Lane Rucker to Jaqueveon Watkins. The two hooked up again on the two-point conversion to tie the game.
That’s where it stood at the half (although there was an interception for each and some ground gained here and there en route to the horn).
Veterans received the ball to start the third. It moved the ball about 40 yards but punted after being flagged for an illegal procedure on a fourth-and-one.
Perry then took it from their own 22 and drove down the field. It had a touchdown called back due to a hold in the endzone, but still managed to get a Tyler Knowles field goal of 27 yards.
Both punted before the Warhawks scored on a 77-yard pass play from Leyton Pinckney to Cordelle Clark. The PAT was no good making it 20-17 with the game just shy of the fourth quarter.
The Panthers answered that on their next possession. That was set up by a kickoff return by Christian Stewart to the visitor’s 38. Rucker found Watkins from five yards out and with Knowles’ point after made it 24-20 with just over nine minutes left to play.
Insurance came by way of their next possession, a 65-yard pass from Rucker to Ross no less – finishing what he started.
An interception negated Veterans’ next possession and Perry’s defense held them to four downs on the next. It then ran out the rest of the clock.
Of note was the Warhawks first possession of the game. On that one, they drove from their own 34 to the Panthers’ 4. There, however, they opted to go for it on fourth down but came up short.
The loss also spoiled the debut of Craig Luckey (32 rushes for 150 yards) in the backfield for Veterans. He was a workhorse-and-a-half all night long and helped the Warhawks get out to a 14-0 l
ead. Their first score came via a short 28 yards – a result of them driving deep into Perry territory and stiff defense. Cordelle Clark finished it off via a 14-yard pass from Pinckney.
On Veterans’ next drive, which started on the Panthers’ 47, Luckey finished it off from the 13.
The win gave Perry a 3-1 record, while dropping the Warhawks to 2-4.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME LANE RUCKER.
PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME KEYOVIONE WHITLOCK.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME CRAIG LUCKEY.
PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME ANDREW ENSLEY.
