PERRYDISE

The Facebook comments were coming through the

Houston Home Journal page, one more positive than the other. “Perry Proud!!”,

“Way to go Panthers!”, “Great job Perry.” An hour and a half earlier the Perry

High School Panthers had won their annual rivalry game over Veterans High

School in front a capacity crowd at Herb St. John Stadium in Perry. It was the

first time in five seasons that the Panthers football team beat the Warhawks

and Perry supporters came out in full force to support and brought that same energy

to social media after the game.

The Facebook and Twitter likes were coming through

the Houston Home Journal page, one more positive than the other. The Westfield

School Hornets football program were celebrating a minute-old victory over

Westminster Schools Augusta at Marvin Arrington Stadium in Perry. A quick stop

by the new pavilion at the stadium would have have allowed a fan to see the fan

support of the Hornets at an all time high. Despite the Westfield fans always

being positive and supportive throughout the many successful seasons in the

past -The Hornets have 17 region championships and two state championships- the

crowds at the games this year have a certain glow about them. The people are

here for the football as much as they are to catch up with friends. The little

kids playing behind the northern end zone and near the home side stands are

paying attention to the game as much as they are each other. The energy is

different this season.

The energy at Perry High School and at The

Westfield School is very different this season. It’s Perrydise in the city as

the two high school football teams are back to their winning ways. In regards

to research I only have one season and a half of football in Perry under my

belt but that has been enough to see that things have already changed for the

better. Perrydise indeed.

I: Beware of Panther Attacks

Perry was losing 14-0 after the first quarter and

despite the impressive defensive and special teams performances they put on a

week ago in their 49-22 win over Harris County High School last week, the

Panthers home crowd couldn’t have been blamed if they reverted back to how they

felt last season, ‘Maybe it’s not our night tonight’. Friday was their night,

just like three of the last four football Friday’s -two on the road, two at

home- have been the Panthers night. Perry would tie the game at halftime and

use the second half to put on another defensive show for their fans. From

senior leaders on defense like Keyvionne Whitlock, Je’Cory Burks and safety

Keinijus King (who had an interception late in the first half that put an end

to a potential successful Veterans drive), the Panthers are loaded and there is

much to celebrate on the field this season. The win was the third of the season

for the Panthers, the same amount they won last year.

II: Now That’s Hornets Football

The Westfield Hornets fans were treated to a

43-point loss a week ago so you can understand if they weren’t rushing through

the pavilion that leads to the beautiful green grass field and classic wooden

bleachers they call home. Prior to that the other three Hornets losses were by

31 and 21 points, not exactly close games by any account. Forget the past, it’s

all about the future of Westfield football and the team on the field at the

moment, loaded with talented seniors like Payton Black, Wyatt Young, John

Garrett Pearson, Robbie Luzzi and Adam Chalmers is combining with equally as

talented players like junior quarterback Garan Daw and sophomores Hunter

Smallwood and sophomore running back/linebacker/kicker/punter (yes he plays

that many positions!) Michael Fitzpatrick to form the best Hornets team in two

seasons.

Against Westminster School Augusta, the Hornets

went up 14-7 at halftime (only their second halftime lead of the season) and

put 13 more points on the board during the fourth quarter (the most points

scored by the Hornets offense in a single quarter this season). This is not the

one-win 2016 Westfield Hornets. Head football coach Jamey Watson, his staff and

the Hornets have won two games this season (2-4) and with four more to play in

the regular season (two at home, two on the road at GISA powerhouse programs

Gatewood and Augusta Prep) there’s a chance a playoff game is the near future.

Westfield won consecutive state championships in 2013

and 2014 and a region championship in 2015 with a group of players that grew

together and form ed a strong class of players. This year’s Hornets team has

the making of that type of nucleus.

III: Perrydise Indeed

Having gone back and forth between Perry High and

Westfield on football Friday nights and always being able to find parking, last

Friday was the first time I had to plan my football doubleheader coverage

accordingly. Both parking lots were packed early before kickoff. Fans were at

the games well before they use to start walking in. The sports editor in me

isn’t as happy as the city of Perry supporter. Both schools are playing well,

fans are back to supporting the players in record numbers (Perspective: In a

full season and a half of covering both teams I was routinely the only media

member at either team’s football games. On Friday I shared the Perry sideline

with two television cameramen. Talk about things changing.) The same for the

Westfield game in regards to fans and alumni on congregating on the sideline.

“Westfield has always supported athletics really well,” said athletic director

and girl’s basketball coach Chip Champion who has worked at the school for six

years. “It doesn’t matter how the seasons are going.”

It’s Perrydise (a phrase I stole from a Facebook post on how proud a

local resident was of the treatment Florida residents received during Hurricane

Irma) in the city, parking spots be damned.

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