As the seconds wound down all in attendance could feel a change in the atmosphere and when the clock eventually struck zero, the Perry High School Panthers football fans rushed the field at Herb St. John Stadium in what could easily be confused for both jubilation and relief. The Panthers defeated the visiting Rutland High School Hurricanes 35-14 on Friday night. The game was Perry’s first on-field action since they scrimmaged HoCo three weeks earlier. What harm could a good old fashioned field storming do? Perry has not won a season opener -home or away- since 2009, they haven’t won a home game since 2013.
It started with the motorcycles and in one case a neon scooter riding around the track that surrounds the football field and ended with the 188-member Perry Panther Regiment playing a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. The Panthers 2016 season opener on Friday night brought out the best in what was reported to be Perry’s main weakness: Defense. The Hurricanes failed to score a point during the first half due to solid tackling by the Panthers front line and linebacker corp. Junior Hurricane quarterback Takori Grayer spent the majority of the game backpedaling and forcing throws into coverage. Perry missed a number of quality practice opportunities due to a number of reasons but Panther coach Carl Dixon must have sensed his team would be ready despite the distractions. “The kids are ready to play,” said Dixon prior to kickoff. “We’ve had weather delays, lightning delays and all kind of delays. They’re ready to get out there.”
Panther senior quarterback and free safety Damion Bagley is going to spend his senior season under center for no other reason that because he’s the team’s best athlete. Bagley did not play a down of defense on Friday night and that’s the way Dixon wants it, at least for now. “He’s upset with me but we need him on offense,” says Dixon prior to the start of the game. “Against Peach County [at home on Fri., Sep. 9] he won’t even come off of the field.” Against the Hurricanes Bagley spent the first three and a half quarters of the game coordinating a Panther run attack that included senior backs Jarius Hart and Khalil Alexander and junior back Jay Watkins. Perry’s opening drive lasted 12 plays and ended with Watkins four-yard run into the end zone. Three minutes earlier he scored from 57-yards away on a end-and-around play that brought the pro-Perry crowd to it’s feet before being called back on a holding penalty.
At the 10:53 mark of the second quarter Rutland senior punter Erick Sanchez positioned the Panthers on their two-yard line with a well-placed kick. The third Perry drive would take more than eight minutes, have two third down situations and after a 22-yard run by Hart, end in a four-yard quarterback keeper and touchdown by Bagley to put Perry ahead 14-0. Rutland wouldn’t score their first points of the game- on a two-yard run by quarterback Takori Grayer and off of a 15-yard run by junior receiver Landon Miller- until the fourth quarter.
The Panthers’ only touchdown of the third quarter came on the most unlikely play of the game. Under pressure from the Hurricane defense, Bagley ran backwards five yards before throwing what will most often be an interception into the end zone where 6’4” senior receiver Jhi’Marre Brown was waiting to out-jump a Hurricane cornerback for the touchdown. Bagley only attempted only six passes during the game thus making the play even more obscure. “Big time players make big time plays,” says Bagley about Brown’s catch. “I honestly didn’t see anyone open, then I was scrabbling and I pointed at him and he pointed in the air.” Brown says, “Damion threw it up and he trusted me to go get it and that’s what I did. I just had to make a play for the team.” Alexander would score the Panthers’ final two touchdowns of the game on four-yard and three-yard runs. The last one being set up by a 15-yard run by Watkins. The field had to be rushed and quickly, the rest of the season will pit Perry against a very solid group of teams in Class 4A-Region 2. For now let the good people of Perry High bask in what for the moment is an unblemished record. “It feels good,” said Bagley about the victory, “coming into the game we had no doubt about getting a win. We believed that we will and we got it.” A few days after the victory Panther head coach Carl Dixon had a more subtle view of the game, “Anytime you win your home opener it’s got to be enjoyable for the kids.” he continued, “Now we have to get ready for a good Peach County team in a couple weeks.” The Panthers host the Trojans on Fri., Sep. 9.
*Notes:
Perry junior free safety/running back Je’Cory Burks was ejected from the game with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
Tyler Knowles, a junior Panther kicker, was 5 for 5 on extra points on Friday night.
Junior outside linebacker Tomarian Harrell had one sack and four quarterback hurries against Rutland.
Sophomore backup quarterback Christian Corbett came into the game midway through the fourth quarter. According to a conversation this reporter had with Dixon, the 6’4” Corbett is expected to play more this season in order to allow Bagley to play a few downs per game as a receiver.
HHJ News
