Perrysburg senior quarterback Josh Takats (5) running the ball behind junior Nico Walkosky (24) at Donnell Stadium. (Drake Harlett | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Bryce Hudik
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
FINDLAY — The Perrysburg defense accumulated four turnovers in a 37-14 Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division win Friday over Findlay at Donell Stadium.
Every turnover came in the first half, including a pick-six by linebacker Braxton Mefferd.
“We’ve played so well on defense all season,” said Perrysburg coach Dirk Conner. “But we really haven’t generated a lot of turnovers.”
Perrysburg jumped to an early 14-0 lead. Both touchdowns were scored in similar fashion by junior running back Nico Walkosky. Walkosky scored on a two-yard run in the first quarter at 10:02 and then on a four-yard run at 8:37, quickly putting the Yellow Jackets up by two scores.
Findlay, who was down to their third string quarterback after an injury, answered with a score of their own. This was already after they lost a fumble and threw two interceptions on previous drives, but they were just one score down.
Quarterback Riley Korkos was thrust into the game, throwing a five-yard pass to Jacob Ragland for the touchdown with 1:49 left in the second quarter.
Perrysburg, in the two-minute drill, drove the length of the field and scored with just 56 seconds remaining. A pass from senior quarterback Josh Takats to Ethan DeVries for 12 yards put the Jackets bac up by two scores.
Takats finished the game with 10 carries for 63 yards and 145 yards through the air, completing 12 of 16 passes.
The Trojans tried to produce a late half score of their own and were knocking on the door when Mefferd jumped a short pass and took it 74 yards for a house call right as was expiring, providing a swing of 15 points in less than two minutes and providing momentum into the break.
“It was awesome for Braxton to make a play like that. He’s a playmaker and to finish it off and take some momentum into the half made the rest of the game a lot easier,” said Conner.
Mefferd added, “My guys were fired up (at half). I got to the locker room, and it was a whole lot of high fives, but I thought we did good as a group defensively.”
The pick six put the score at a lopsided 29-7 at halftime — a three score cushion for the Jackets.
Perrysburg opened the second half with a slow, methodical drive, draining five minutes off the clock, capped off by a five-yard rushing touchdown from Takats. The Yellow Jackets’ two-point conversion on a pass from Takats to Dominick Woods put them up by 30, effectively sealing the deal by setting off a running clock.
Findlay didn’t show any quit despite the score and scored in the dwindling minutes of the fourth. Korkos punched it in from three yards out, cementing the final score of 37-14.
The Perrysburg defense continued their dominant streak, allowing 224 yards of total offense and forcing those four turnovers. Besides Mefferd’s pick-six, Brady Maxwell and Lucas Pollock had interceptions and Jonathan Butterfield had a fumble recovery.
Linebacker Joseph Seney led the team with eight tackles and two sacks.
As for the Jackets’ offense, they won the turnover battle handily, only forfeiting one interception by Findlay’s Israel Moore. Perrysburg produced 287 yards of total offense.
Carson Pershing had seven carries for 34 yards, Walkosky had eight carries for 30 yards, and Woods crried the ball two times for 13 yards.
J.D. Zeeb had four catches for 33 yards, Woods had two carries for 28 yards, Lucas Graham caught two passes for 28 yards, Ethan DeVries had two catches for 24 yards, Walkosky caught a pass for 20 yards, and Braylon Foster had one catch for five yards.
As for the Trojans’ offense, wide receiver Jacob Ragland caught an impressive 10 passes for 74 yards and a score. He was a bright spot on an otherwise bleak-looking Findlay offense.
Findlay starting quarterback Landon Eckleberry completed 8 of 14 passes for 70 yards, but threw two interceptions, and Korkos was 9 for 15 for 105 yards with one TD and one interception.
Ramier Williams carried the ball six times for 24 yards, Moore caught three passes for 49 yards, and Carter Imke had three catches for 40 yards.
Takats said Perrysburg’s win was about not dwelling on last week’s first loss of the season to Toledo Whitmer.
“It was just about not changing things, not going into a panic mode,” said Takats. “Just doing the little things right and getting back to details.”
Perrysburg improves to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the NLL Buckeye Division with the win over Findlay (3-5, 1-2). Their next matchup will come the following Friday when they take on Springfield (2-6, 1-2) at Steinecker Stadium.
