Perkins dominates Napoleon, 31-0

NAPOLEON — Perkins is in full playoff mode. The Pirates forced four turnovers and used a balanced offense to dominate Napoleon 31-0 on Friday in a Division IV Region 14 quarterfinal. Perkins, which knocked Napoleon out of the playoffs last year in a hard-fought, 35-21 four-quarter game, made quick work of the Wildcats in an anticipated rematch. The Pirates, the No. 6 seed in the region, played the fourth quarter under a running clock and shut out the third-seeded Wildcats. "We played a good game," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "Got off to a fast start and did exactly what we wanted to do. I thought we executed at a high level. "We're playing good football at the right time and this is when you want to be playing your best. We've been trending that way for a couple weeks." The Pirates, who won their eighth straight game to improve to 9-3, will travel to second-seeded Galion (10-1) next week for a regional semifinal matchup. Galion routed Cloverleaf 41-13 on Friday. Napoleon had a seven-game winning streak snapped and ended its season at 8-3. The efficient Pirates were led by the quarterback-receiver duo of Sam Schweinfurth and Blake Parker. Schweinfurth completed 9 of 12 passes for 198 yards — all in the first three quarters — and had a 23-yard touchdown to Parker, who finished with seven catches for 158 yards. "They've been doing that for a while," said Santoro of the two seniors. "They're really good friends so they obviously have a good connection. They put in a lot of work together and it comes down to those reps." Perkins' defense forced a three-and-out to start the game and the Pirates scored first on a 24-yard touchdown run by Levi Jackson. After another Napoleon three-and-out, Perkins drove 69 yards on 13 plays, the key moment coming when Schweinfurth hit Parker on a crossing pattern good for 19 yards on third-and-19. Four plays later, Schweinfurth connected with Parker in the back of the end zone on the 23-yard score. Bryce Davie's fifth interception of the season — which tied Perkins' career record of 11 — gave the Pirates the ball four plays later. Grant Hickman made it 17-0 with a 23-yard field goal. Hickman is 8 for 8 on field goal attempts this season. Braxden Martin recovered a fumble on the next Napoleon possession and scored on a one-yard run to give Perkins a commanding 24-0 lead with 49 seconds left in the first half. Perkins almost scored again before halftime when Kaden Legando, who had two interceptions to push his season total to six, jumped a long out route and returned it 59 yards on the last play of the half. He was tackled inside the Napoleon 10-yard line. "I tried (to score), man," Legando said. "The quarterback, I thought he took a great angle. I tried to bring him in a little bit. He wasn't going for it. I've heard enough about it." Napoleon put together its best drive to start the second half, but it ended with a 29-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright, preserving Perkins' shutout. The Pirates, who outgained the Wildcats 349-165, have limited seven opponents to single digits this season. "I think they're a really good football team, but we came out ready to play," Santoro said. "We played one of our better games. Last year we let some things get away from us (against Napoleon). We're a different team from last year, too. Obviously we were a really good team last year, but we're better in some ways this year." Napoleon junior running back Hayden Groll, who set a school record with 1,635 yards rushing this season, was limited to 54 yards on 11 carries. He had only one attempt that went for more than 10 yards. Martin scored Perkins' last touchdown on a nine-yard run up the middle on fourth-and-2. Legando intercepted another pass on Napoleon's next possession. "Our coaches set them up perfectly; they got us right with the concepts," Legando said. "We knew coming in they ran a lot of comebacks and they ran that dagger concept which I also got an interception off of." Perkins 14 10 7 0 — 31Napoleon 0 0 0 0 — 0 P — Levi Jackson 24 run (Grant Hickman kick)P — Blake Parker 23 pass from Sam Schweinfurth (Hickman kick)P — Hickman 23 field goalP — Braxden Martin 1 run (Hickman kick)P — Martin 9 run (Hickman kick)