The Perry Bluejays varsity football team showed a lot of fight Friday evening against the visiting Nevada Cubs, but it wasn’t quite enough as they fell 34-23.

Showing new schemes on both offense and defense after an 0-2 start where they weren’t competitive, the Bluejays started strong, getting an interception from Byron Melendrez on Nevada’s first drive of the game. Perry failed to convert the turnover into points, though, and the Cubs scored on their next drive. At the start of the second quarter however, Perry forced their second turnover of the game on a fumble recovery by Abraham Ruiz. Three plays later, the Bluejays scored their first points of the season on a five yard touchdown pass from Jacob Nelson to Wilber Ramirez. Nevada then got a big return on the ensuing kickoff and turned the short field into a touchdown.

The teams then traded punts, until Perry punter Cori Alamina pinned the Cubs at their own five-yard line. On the very next play, Manny Soto tackled the ball carrier in the end zone for a safety. Perry took the two points and returned the subsequent free kick to midfield. On the very next play, Ramirez took a handoff and ran all the way for a 50-yard touchdown, giving the Bluejays their first lead all season at 16-14. Nevada would take it back on their next drive, going 80 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown to go up 22-16 at halftime. They would go ahead even more on their first possession of the second half, with another long drive that ended in a touchdown run.

Perry then brought the deficit back to single digits on the biggest play of the night: an 82-yard pass from Nelson to Kato Dougan for a score to bring it to 28-23. The Bluejays then got the ball back by forcing the third turnover of the game, but were unable to pick up a first down and had to punt. Two drives later, Nevada got a turnover of their own on an interception and a few plays later turned it into their fifth touchdown of the game. The 11-point lead by the Cubs proved enough, as Perry was unable to find the end zone again, and the game ended 34-23.

The loss brings Perry’s record to 0-3 as they hit the road to Alleman for a non-conference matchup against the North Polk Comets next Friday night. Listen for live play-by-play coverage of the game on AM 1310, FM 99.7 KDLS, with pregame at 7 p.m., and kickoff at 7:30.