by PERRY, Ohio – Revenge from a heartbreaking loss one year ago is always sweet. The Perry Pirates lone regular season loss in 2018 came in week two in overtime to the Chardon Hilltoppers on the road.
Fast forward to 2019, the host Pirates avenge the overtime loss a year ago with a 31-23 victory to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Reigning Kee On Sports Media player of the week Drew Schiano put his Pirates on his back and lead them to victory. Schiano threw three touchdowns and ran one another. Two of Schiano’s touchdown passes were in excess of 70-yards.
In two games, Schiano has 12 passing touchdowns, 13 total touchdowns.
“I would never think I had nine touchdowns last week,” Schiano said. “I still can’t believe it, but its all a team effort.”
Team effort indeed. Take the Pirates first touchdown of the game. Trailing 7-3 and facing a third down at 22 at their own 22. Schiano buys time and goes deep to Matt Sulivan who makes a terrific catch on the near sideline and goes the distance for the touchdown. Perry takes a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter to take control of the game.
“I saw him catch the ball and then I lost him,” Schiano said “I didn’t know if he was still up until I saw him run down the sidelines.”
“Drew and Matthew Sullivan have a great connection between the two of them,” Perry head coach Matt Rosati said. “We were really pleased and that play that Drew and Matthew made was huge.”
The Pirates would score on their first four possessions of the game. Up 10-7 and following a Desmond Malone interception, Perry needs just one play to increase its lead. Schiano hooks up with senior wide receiver Devon Holbert on a slant route for a 35-yard touchdown. Pirates up 17-7.
Next Perry possession Schiano keeps a play alive before finding junior running back Jaylen Anderson who is open along the near sideline. Anderson would do the rest and go 72-yards for the touchdown. Pirates up 24-7 at the half.
Pirates take their opening possession of the third quarter and increase their lead to 31-7. Schiano calls his own number on a 15-yard touchdown run.
The tide would start to turn late in the third quarter. The Pirates first miscue gives the Hilltoppers some much needed life. A bad snap over Schiano’s head would roll into Perry’s endzone. Chardon would get a safety and now trail 31-9.
Hilltoppers would take advance of excellent field possession following the free kick. Chardon would open the fourth quarter with a four yard touchdown run by Nathanael Sulka. The two-point conversion failed, but Chardon is back within two scores at 31-15.
Next Perry possession, another bad snap over Schiano’s head. Pirates would recover on their own 3-yard line and would punt. Chardon would get great field possession but come up 2-yards short on fourth down. No points on that possession ultimately did the Hilltoppers in.
“We made too many mistakes and when you make too many mistakes against a team like that you are going to pay for it.” Chardon head coach Mitch Hewitt said.
Hilltoppers would score in the final minute. Senior quarterback Max Vujaklija would find the endzone on a five yard sweep to the right corner of the endzone. The two-point conversion made the score 31-23.
Chardon could not recover the onside kick and Perry would get the revenge they were looking for.
Chardon falls to 1-1 on the season. Hilltoppers host Alliance in week three.
Perry improves to 2-0 on the season. Pirates wraps up their three game homestand to open the season with their rivalry game against the Madison Blue Streaks. Perry hopes to keep the ‘Little Brown Jug’ in Pirates country for another year.
Kee On Sports Media will have complete coverage of the battle for the ‘Little Brown Jug. Yours truly Scott Piker will cover the game on September 13.
For more on the Pirates and Hilltoppers game. SportsTime Ohio’s Gene Winters joins Scott Piker to breakdown the game.
Scott Piker is the Indians beat writer for Kee On Sports Media Group. He has over 20 years of media experience in Northeast Ohio including six years of television sports producing for television stations WEWS and WOIO in Cleveland. Scott will cover Cleveland Sports at all levels and also serve as a Cleveland media insider. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport.
Love the defense. They need to be notice.they are really great.that number 77 he is good