By Bryce Hudik
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
PERRYSBURG — Perrysburg had little difficulty handling Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division foe Springfield on Senior Night Friday at Steinecker Stadium, winning 42-6.
The Yellow Jacket defense forced two turnovers and scored a special teams touchdown.
Perrysburg’s first offensive drive went for 12 plays, 50 yards and took 5:20 off the clock. Senior quaarterback Josh Takats capped it off with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
The very next Springfield drive was interrupted when Perrysburg defensive back Grey Swanson picked off the Blue Devils. The turnover positioned Perrysburg at midfield and they took advantage with running back Carson Pershing scoring from nine yards out at 2:04.
After a Springfield three and out, Perrysburg produced another churning drive. This time Takats threw a touchdown off a rollout pass to his tight end, Braylon Foster, with 7:24 remaining in the first half.
On their ensuing drive, Perrysburg fumbled on the one-yard line with just 1:34 left in the half, giving Springfield some life.
The Blue Devils looked to be driving and, having one play left before halftime, aired it out only to have it picked off by defensive back Lukas Pollock.
In the first half the Yellow Jackets only gave up two first downs and 64 total yards while they put up 221 yards and 12 first down, leading 21-0 at the break.
Perrysburg received the ball to start the second half and wasted no time. Takats scampered into the end zone from 10 yards, punctuating his run with a mean stiff arm to a Springfield defender.
On Springfield’s next drive, the Perrysburg defense had the Blue Devils pinned deep in their own territory. Perrysburg forced a punt which was swarmed and subsequently blocked by the Perrysburg special teams unit, who then recovered it in the end zone.
“Special teams establishes field position which is so critically important when facing a good team. So yeah, special teams plays a huge roll in it and our guys take pride in that aspect,” said Perrysburg coach Dirk Conner. “It may be the difference in the game next week (at Anthony Wayne).”
Perrysburg fumbled on their next drive, and it was scooped up by Springfield defensive backer Jakobe May. May made a good return out of it and gave his offense the ball in the red zone. However, the Perrysburg defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs, negating the fumble and good field position.
Perrysburg went on to score once more on a Pershing rushing touchdown from 13 yards out with six minutes to play.
Springfield showed no quit and scored on the very last play of the game. Quarterback Kaiden Taylor tossed a bomb to his junior wide out Byron Jackson for six points.
Takats led his offense with 95 yards through the air on a perfect 9-for-9 passing and a touchdown. He also rushed 11 times for 94 yards and two scores. Pershing ran for 153 yards on 24 touches, scoring twice.
They also put up 388 yards to Springfields 152, 21 first downs to their 5 while possessing the ball for 20 minutes less than the Blue Devils.
“I love these kids,” said Conner when asked about the senior class. “I do this for them and the relationships that we build. This was the first group I’ve had for four years and to watch them grow up is just special.”
Perrysburg is slated to take on their rival AW next week in Whitehouse. This will mark the final game of the regular season and, if they were to win, would give Perrysburg (8-1 overall, 3-1 NLL Buckeye) a slice of the Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division title (could be tri-championship with AW, Perrysburg, and Toledo Whitmer).
If Perrysburg were to lose, AW would win the title outright, so stakes are high for both.
Springfield is 2-7 and 1-3 on the season and looks to close the season at Whitmer (7-2, 3-1) next Friday.
