The Perry Bluejays opened their 53rd season of playing football at historic Dewey Field with a 34-21 win over the North Polk Comets behind the 5 rushing touchdowns from quarterback Will Whiton.
A large and loud home crowd saw Perry lead 21-7 at the end of the 1st quarter behind a 6 yard TD run, a 36 yard jaunt and a 44 run from Whiton. The 3rd TD was set up by an interception from cornerback Jacob Thompson. North Polk countered with a TD right before half to cut the lead to 21-14 at the break, then the Comets then took the 2nd half kickoff and marched 58 yards in 13 plays to tie the score at 21 which turned out to be the only score in the 3rd period. The Bluejays then went 81 yards in 5 plays, helped out by a personal foul call against the Comets on a hit out of bounds on Whiton. Two plays later, Whiton went 55 yards for the score and put the Bluejays up 28-21 with 10:45 to go.
North Polk then mounted a drive and got to the Perry 24 yard line but on a 4th and 4 play, safety Kade Van Kirk made a terrific play to knock the pass down and give the ball back to the Jays. Perry then went on a 76 yard game clinching drive, with Whiton hitting TE Marcus Meri on two big pass plays, one for 19 and one for 34 yards that one came on a 2nd and 21 play to give Perry a first down at the 15. Whiton then scored on a 1 yard keeper on 4th and goal to cap the scoring for the evening. Whiton ended any thoughts of a Comets comeback with a pick and then the Bluejays ran out the clock.
Whiton ended up with a career high 257 yards rushing on 24 attempts. He was also 8-12 passing for 127 yards with one INT. Nick Fellom had 3 receptions for 18 yards and Meri finished with 2 catches for 54 yards. Linebackers Eli Saemisch and Blake Jans lead the defense effort with 12 and 11 tackles respectively. DE Solomon Pierce also contributed 6 tackles, with two of those behind the line of scrimmage.
Perry evens its record at 1-1 and will travel to Gilbert next Friday. We’ll have complete coverage of the game starting at 7PM with Jason Olejniczak Coach’s show with kick off set for 7:30.