The Perry football team suffered a heartbreaking 14-13 defeat at the hands of the ADM Tigers at Dewey Field on Friday. On a damp, humid opening night of the high school football season, Perry was unable to overcome a 14-0 2nd half deficit.

The Tigers struck first in the contest on a 4th down touchdown pass from Frank Weiland to Sam McCartney. Weiland threw for two scores on the night, the second coming in the 3rd quarter on a slant pattern to fellow senior Ian Lafollette. The Bluejay offense came alive late in the 3rd quarter, pulling within 14-7 on a 12 yard touchdown grab by Tay Lucas. Several plays later, Perry linebacker Adan Medina stripped the ball from Weiland and rumbled 35 yards to pull within a point. However, a botched snap on the game-tying extra point would turn out to be the difference in the game. Perry would threaten again late in the contest, but two 4th quarter interceptions by ADM defensive back Daniel Finnegan prevented the completion of a Perry comeback.

The Perry offensive line struggled mightily against the Tiger’s veteran front four, giving up 8 sacks in the non-district matchup, resulting in negative 30 yards on the ground. Perry quarterback Ryan Rathje turned in a solid performance in his first career start, connecting on 18 passes for 137 yards. Tay Lucas looks to be a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver, hauling in 9 Rathje passes for 70 yards and a score on the night. Eli Saemisch carried the ball 10 times for the Bluejays for a total of 29 yards.

Perry falls to 0-1 on the season and will travel to North Polk next Friday, while ADM movies to 1-0 and will return home to face Ballard.