It was a tale of two halves at Dewey Field Friday night as the Perry Bluejays overcame a 14 point halftime deficit to defeat the Boone Toreadors 21-14 for Homecoming.
Boone, who came into the game with 0-3 record, took the opening kickoff and marched 58 yards in 5 plays to take a 7-0 on QB Tanner Schminke 1 yard run. He added a 12 yard TD run with 6:55 to go before half to put Boone in control 14-0 at the break. During the 1st half, Perry could muster only 20 yards of offense, while Boone had over 220.
The Bluejays got the crowd and themselves right back in the game as Senior QB Will Whiton went 65 yards on the 1st play from scrimmage in the 2nd half for a TD to make the score 14-7. Later in the quarter, Sophomore Linebacker Adon Medina intercepted a Schminke pass in Toreador territory to set up 19 yard TD run on a broken play by Whiton down the left sideline. Ivan Garcia’s extra point was good and the game was tied at 14-14 heading into the 4th quarter.
After Perry punted from its own 7 yard line, the Bluejay continued it’s 2nd half dominance forcing a quick 3 and out. A bad punt put the ball on the Perry 37 where the Jays started their game winning march. They scored on a 9 play, 63 yard drive, where the Bluejay offensive line of Jacob Clark, JR McCord, Bryce Bucklew, Jorge Soto and Anthony Guardado took control of the game, with Whiton capping it with a 6 yard run straight into Boone’s defensive line. The extra point gave Perry a 21-14 lead with 6:10 to go. Boone had a couple of chances but several key plays by the Perry D kept Boone from tying the game up. Senior Blake Jans had a sack on blitz for a big 9 yard loss on the ensuing possession. Then after the Bluejays were forced to punt with 2:15 to go, Boone took over with no time outs left at their own 43 yard line. After getting into Perry territory on the 1st play, but after Boone got another 1st down, Medina sealed the Homecoming victory with his 2nd interception and the celebration was on.
Whiton led the Perry offense unofficially with 163 yards on 28 carries and the 3 TDS. Nic Wilhelmi chipped in 3 receptions for 24 yards. The entire defense played a terrific 2nd half, limiting Boone to just 94 yards of offense.
Perry is now 2-2 overall, 1-0 in district play and will host top ten Carroll next Friday at Dewey Field. Complete coverage of the game begins at 7 PM with the Jason O show, followed by kickoff at 7:30.