Perry wins second straight 31-20, ends losing streak to Veterans

The Perry Panthers won their third game of the season and their second consecutive game at home on Friday night, defeating the Veterans Warhawks 31-20.

With 9:07 on the game clock early in the fourth quarter and with the Panthers ahead 24-20 following a Lane Rucker pass to Jay Watkins for a score, Perry track star Davion Ross took another Rucker pass and sprinted up the right sideline into the end zone for a 66-yard touchdown. The pass was a simple 10-yard out but combined with Ross’ speed it quickly (literally) turned into the straw that broke the Warhawks back. Perry had lost their last four matchups with Veterans and now that streak was over. Another streak, a losing one, continued for Veterans however. This was the Warhawks’ third consecutive loss. After losing their season opener and winning two straight, the Warhawks are 2-4 heading into region play.

The Panthers on the other hand are headed into a Thursday night non-region game in Albany against Dougherty County. Trojans head coach Corey Joyner and an assistant were in attendance, no doubt scouting for their game in less than a week and what they saw on Friday night was a Perry defense that dug in its heels and made stop after stop during the second half. Senior linebacker Keyvionne Whitlock intercepted a Leyton Pinckney pass with 1:19 remaining in the game while senior safety Keinijus King got an interception of his own at the end of the first half with Veterans threatening to take the lead with the score tied at 14. Whenever first-year head coach Kevin Smith needed his defense to make a stop they would. Whenever needed the ball back they could count on their defense to keep Veterans out of the end zone. A Pinckney 75-yard touchdown connection with Cordelle Clark at the 6:29 ,mark of the third quarter was the only time Veterans would score during the second half.

Perry would get a 20-yard field goal by senior kicker Tyler Knowles and touchdowns from Jay Watkins and Moss to dominate the second half scoring.

Veterans led 14-0 after the first quarter behind touchdowns from Clark and on a 13-yard run by senior running back Craig Luckey. Moss blocked a punt and returned the errant ball 40 yards to the end zone for Perry’s first score of the game in the second quarter. A 45-yard run by sophomore running back Tyrell Owens set up a seven-yard score by Watkins to tie the game late in the second quarter.

Perry is scheduled to kick off at Dougherty at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Veterans will return to action on Friday, October 6 against Bainbridge at Freedom Field as they will have the next week off.