UPDATED: Perrysburg trounces Maumee, clinches playoff berth (10-26-12)

PERRYSBURG — Friday night couldn’t have been much sweeter for Perrysburg’s football
team.
On Senior Night, the Yellow Jackets clinched a playoff berth, got a courageous
performance out of running back Mark Delas and claimed victory in the battle for
the Ding-Dong Bell. PHOTO
GALLERY
Perrysburg
was a 55-26 winner over arch-rival Maumee at Steinecker Stadium to finish the
regular season at 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Lakes League.
“This is one of the best wins we’ve ever had for our program. It’s just awesome,”
said Perrysburg head coach Matt Kregel.
The win solidified only the second playoff appearance for the ’Jackets, who,
according to www.joeeitel.com, are projected to play at Avon (9-1) next Friday
after vaulting to fifth in Division II, Region 6.
“All I care about is that we’re in and I’ll play anybody right now. We’re rolling,”
Kregel said.
“We want to get a win and make school history,” said Perrysburg quarterback Steve
Slocum.
Delas and Slocum stole the show, running for a combined 426 yards and accounting for
all eight of the ’Jackets’ touchdowns.
In total, Perrysburg rushed for 490 yards and Slocum passed for 51 yards including a
touchdown pass to Nate Patterson.
Delas, who battled a leg injury throughout the second half, ran 22 times for 202
yards and four touchdowns. He also recovered a fumbled punt attempt and returned
it 18 yards for a score.
“It doesn’t matter right now. We won,” Delas said of his injured leg. “I can’t feel
my left leg, but at least we won.”
The 6-foot 3, 240-pound running back suffered the injury in the first half and was
sidelined for the final few minutes of the second quarter before returning for
the second half.
“I was coming back whether they told me or not,” Delas said. “I wanted to keep
playing.”
“Unbelievable,” Kregel said of Delas’ effort. “He’s come a long way with those kinds
of things. The focus and the toughness, that’s going to make him a great
player.”
After a 40-26 loss to Maumee last year, Perrysburg came out rolling, and on the
second play from scrimmage Slocum ran 85 yards down the right side to give the
’Jackets a 7-0 lead after Slocum’s PAT.
It was the first of two rushing touchdowns for Slocum.
“It was our last game on our home field and we just came out with a lot of
intensity,” Slocum said.
Perrysburg built a 35-20 lead by halftime, but with 7:45 left in the third quarter
Maumee cut its deficit to 35-26 when quarterback Steve Duby hit Dominique King
down the left sideline for a 31-yard score.
Then the ’Jackets’ defense proved its worth.
With a chance to drive and cut the lead to one, the Panthers were smothered on a
screen pass after facing a fourth-and-two on Perrysburg’s 26-yard line.
The turnover on downs with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter allowed Perrysburg to
go up 42-26 after Slocum’s second touchdown run.
“It shows what our kids have gone through in a season and this offseason,” Kregel
said of the defensive stand. “They’re not going to lay down in a situation like
that.”
Perrysburg out-gained Maumee, 541-229 in total offense and accumulated 22 first
downs, 18 via the run.
“For a team that we thought was going to throw the ball 50 times per game, our
running game is doing OK right now,” Kregel said jokingly.
For Kregel, he knows he and his team can celebrate their Friday night win over their
biggest rival, but today it’ll be back to work.
“(There are) huge emotions because this team has done such a great job of getting
better every week,” he said. “The wheels are already turning, thinking about
next week.”
PERRYSBURG 55, MAUMEE 26
MAUMEE 6 14 6 0 —26
PERRYSBURG 21 14 7 13 —55
P — Slocum, 85 run (Slocum kick)
M — Schultz, 5 run (kick failed)
P — Delas, 16 run (Slocum kick)
P — Delas, 18 fumble return (Slocum kick)
P — Delas, 21 run (Slocum kick)
M — McGovern, 36 pass from Duby (McGovern kick)
P — Patterson, 13 pass from Slocum (Slocum kick)
M — Duby, 1 run (McGovern kick)
M — King, 31 pass from Duby (kick failed)
P — Slocum, 5 run (Slocum kick)
P — Delas, 1 run (Slocum kick)
P — Delas, 5 run (pass failed)
TEAM STATISTICS
Category M P
First downs 11 22
By rushing 4 18
By passing 5 2
By penalty 2 2
Total net yards 229 541
Rushing 65 490
Passing 164 51
Attempts 29 6
Completions 15 4
Interceptions 2 1
Punts/average 2/34.0 1/32.0
Penalties/yards 6/60 13/144
Fumbles/lost 1/1 2/0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: (M) Schultz, 16-42; Duby, 11-20; King, 1-14; Goatley, 3-6, Team- (minus 17).
(P) Slocum, 17-224; Delas, 22-202; Dimmerling, 11-60; Bishop, 1-4.
PASSING: (M) Duby, 15-29-2—164. (P) Slocum, 4-6-1—51.
RECEIVING: (M) King, 3-60; McGovern, 6-56; Schrinel, 3-25; Schultz, 2-19; Goatley,
1-4. (P) Patterson, 3-50; Reddick, 1-1.