by PERRY, Ohio – The 70th anniversary of the ‘Battle for the Little Brown Jug’ will go down as perhaps the longest in Madison Blue Streaks and Perry Pirates football history.
Due to severe storms that rolled through Northeast Ohio Friday evening, the game was suspended at halftime. The second half took place Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Perry’s Alumni Stadium.
The host Pirates took home their fifth straight ‘Little Brown Jug’ with a 63-35 victory over 20 hours after the original kickoff time of 7 p.m. Friday, September 13.
The visiting Blue Streaks took the opening kickoff Friday night and scored on its opening drive. Senior quarter back Alex Dragas connects with senior tight end Jacob Land for a seven yard touchdown. 7-0 Blue Streaks.
Pirates answer right back. Junior running back Jaylen Anderson began what would turn out to be a career tying game. Anderson would rumble 31-yards for the touchdown after he fumbled the handoff from senior quarterback Drew Schiano. Game tied at seven after the first quarter.
Anderson would give Perry it’s first lead in the second quarter on a five yard touchdown run. Pirates up 14-7.
Madison would answer right back to tie the game at 14. Junior running back Austin McCort would find the endzone from four yards out.
Anderson would get the lead back for his Pirates. This time it is a run from six yards out. Perry back in front at 21=-14..
Perry starts to gain momentum at this point. After forcing Madison, to go three and out, the Pirates strike quickly on offense. In two plays, Perry takes a 14-point lead at 28-14. Schiano would connect with Matthew Sullivan for 39-yards. Next play Anderson scores his fourth touchdown of the half. This time on a 41-yard pass from Schiano.
Blue Streaks would cut the Pirates lead to 28-21 with :11 seconds left until halftime. Dragas hooks up with junior running back Jaren Havens on an 11-yard touchdown.
The play of the game before the suspension came as the half came to a close. Jadynn Anderson, the sophomore and younger brother of Jaylen takes the ensuing kickoff back 78-yards for the touchdown to make it 35-21 at halftime.
Fast forward 18 hours to Saturday afternoon. Perry started on offense and tried to take a three score lead. Madison defense comes up big with an interception in the red zone. Land would grab the deflected Schiano pass and return to to Madison 45-yard line.
Blue Streaks would turn the turnover into points. McCort would run 32-yards for the touchdown. Blue Streaks back to within seven at 35-28.
Madison’s defense just could not make a big stop when they needed one. After allowing three fourth down conversions in the first half Friday night, the Blue Streaks just could not get off the field.
“They got just better skill kids,” Madison head coach Tim Willis said. “The got five really skilled kids. We’re in a mismatch and we have to try and do other things to try and take care of that.”
Case in point, Perry goes right back down the field and score to get their 14 point lead back. Schiano and senior wide receiver Devon Holbert on a 12-yard touchdown strike to make it 42-28 Perry.
Back come the Blue Streaks one more time. Dragas calls his own number and goes 22-yards to the endzone for the touchdown. Madison back within one score at 42-35.
Next Perry possession, the Pirates take control of the game right back and never look back. Anderson would find the endzone for a fifth time. This time it’s via a two-yard touchdown run. Pirates lead 49-35 at the end of the third quarter.
“Today is my highest with five touchdowns,” Anderson said. “It feels amazing you know. Just to hoist that jug, there’s no better feeling. It’s our biggest game of the year. Nothing is better than this game.”
Pirates would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Schiano and Sullivan would connect on a 12-yard touchdown pass to make the score 56-35. The touchdown came after Pirates head coach Matt Rosati called time out. The players convinced he they can get the first down after originally sending out the field goal unit. The players were right. They got the first and a touchdown as well.
“Yeah that one paid off,” Rosati said. “My thinking was that even if we don’t get it, they’d be down at the eleven yard line. If we missed it the ball would come out farther. Our guys wanted to go and we felt confident we could get it. You let players play and fortunately Drew (Schiano) made a nice play and found Matthew (Sullivan) for a touchdown.”
The scoring ended with a fumble recovery in the endzone by junior offensive lineman Seann Norman after Anderson fumbled near the goal line. When it is going good, it’s going good except for one thing of you are Rosati, penalties.
“We are the worst penalized team,” Rosati said. “We’re worse than the Browns when it comes to penalties.”
The Pirates are going good in regards to the rivalry with the Blue Streaks. Perry has now won the last five meetings dating back to 2015.
Perry improves to 3-0, with all three victories against Western Reserve Conference opponents. The Pirates open Chagrin Valley Conference play on September 20 at Ashtabula Edgewood.
Madison drops to 1-2. Blue Streaks open up Western Reserve Conference play on September 20 against the Willoughby South Rebels at home.
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.
