FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Perkins sets records in 2-OT win

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins' playmakers were on full display in the Pirates' 44-41 double-overtime victory over Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Friday at Firelands Health Stadium. Danny Buga's 36-yard field goal in the second overtime proved to be the winning points as the Pirates started their season 1-0. Buga kicked three field goals in the game — including a 47-yarder — to set a Perkins single-game record. The Pirates set two other records. Head coach Jalen Santoro picked up his 58th victory in his seventh season, surpassing Rock Farlow on the program wins list. Bryce Davie grabbed one of three interceptions by Perkins' defense to run his career total to a school-record 12. There were five lead changes in a game that lasted 3 1/2 hours. Perkins clinched the win after VASJ's center snapped the football past quarterback Julian Harris on the Vikings' first play of the second overtime. The 20-yard loss was followed by a penalty and three more pass plays to end the game. The Pirates tied the game at 41-41 when quarterback Grant Kuhnle hit Kaden Legando for an 18-yard touchdown in the first overtime. "Long game, but we made one more play than they did," Santoro said. "We knew we could play with them, but we had some guys up front getting their first start and they had a really good defensive front. "We had to weather the storm a little bit and, honestly, we made some big plays on defense and special teams to kick-start us. It was a crazy one." Perkins fell behind 14-0 before Davie returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown. The Pirates took a 17-14 halftime lead on Kuhnle's 16-yard touchdown pass to Dante Shipp Jr. Perkins fell behind 27-20 in the second half before taking a 34-27 lead on Legando's 51-yard touchdown reception and Shipp's 24-yard interception return for a TD. Shipp gained 57 of the Pirates' 86 rushing yards in the game. He went 38 and 26 yards in the second quarter out of the wildcat formation. Kuhnle was 9 for 30 for 153 yards, but threw three touchdown passes and looked more comfortable against a physical defense as the game wore on. VASJ, a Division II program from Cleveland, won 10 games last year and has 26 seniors on its roster. "That's the best team I've ever played, coming from a smaller school," said Kuhnle, a transfer from St. Paul. "I had to keep my head. Obviously I didn't play as well as I wanted to, but anything to get the job done and get to 1-0. "We got a lot of playmakers. We can put guys in positions for 50-50 balls. We trust our guys that they're 75-25 balls. I don't even have to throw a perfect ball. I trust my guys that they'll go up and get it for me." Perkins will play on the road Thursday at Toledo Scott, which lost its season opener last Thursday to Toledo St. John's, 44-6. The Pirates will need some recovery time after likely earning some huge playoff points against a quality opponent that plays two divisions higher than Division IV Perkins. "It's huge. It's a double-edge sword because it's a physical game," Santoro said. "You play these teams that are super physical. I don't know for sure, but at the end of the day that could be the best team we play all year no matter how far we play. It's a really good team with a lot of big-time players." VASJ 6 8 7 13 7 0 — 41 Perkins 0 17 3 14 7 3 — 44 VASJ — Teon Brasmon 22 pass from Julian Harris (kick failed) VASJ — Ronnie Taylor Jr. 2 run (Dillon White pass from Harris) P — Bryce Davie 83 kickoff return (Danny Buga kick) P — Buga 31 field goal P — Dante Shipp Jr. 16 pass from Grant Kuhnle (Buga kick) P — Buga 47 field goal VASJ — Taylor Jr. 59 pass from Harris (Jack Sable kick) VASJ — Harris 1 run (kick blocked) P — Kaden Legando 51 pass from Kuhnle (Buga kick) P — Shipp 24 interception return (Buga kick) VASJ — Jamir Martemus 25 pass from Harris (Sable kick) VASJ — Leon Jackson 8 run (Sable kick) P — Legando 18 pass from Kuhnle (Buga kick) P — Buga 36 field goal Toledo Start 34, Norwalk 17 NORWALK — Visiting Toledo Start scored twice in the opening quarter for a 14-0 lead, and Norwalk never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way in a 34-17 loss at Contractors Stadium. The Spartans came out of the gates firing with a huge shot downfield by Emmanuel Esparza-Moreno. He connected with John Archer for a 54-yard touchdown pass. Freshman Brysen Risner, who had a big second half for the Truckers, closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard run. Risner ran 13 times for 141 yards and the touchdown. Ayden Hudson-Brown ran 14 times for 44 yards, while Lyric Shipp added 37 yards on 10 attempts. Cam Evans caught both completed passes on three attempts from Brady Singer for 46 yards. Tai'Rese Highsmith totaled 155 yards on 15 carries for Start, while Ronnie Denson added 78 yards on five attempts. Norwalk heads to Ontario this Friday. Start 14 8 6 6 — 34 Norwalk 0 10 0 7 — 17 S — John Archer 54 pass from Emmanuel Esparza-Moreno (kick failed) S — Tai'Rese Highsmith 8 run (Joseph Ridley run) N — Cam Evans 21 pass from Brady Singer (Aiden Kahn kick) S — Highsmith 10 run (Ronnie Denson run) N — Kahn 25 field goal S — Denson 51 run (kick failed) S — Archer 59 pass from Esparza-Moreno (run failed) N — Brysen Risner 10 run (Gentry kick) Oak Harbor 42, Huron 7 OAK HARBOR — Huron allowed 355 rushing yards in a 42-7 non-conference loss at Oak Harbor. The Tigers' lone touchdown came in the second quarter when Robert Fisher connected with Roman Hadala on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Huron 0 7 0 0 — 7 Oak Harbor 14 7 21 0 — 42 McComb 48, Monroeville 14 MCCOMB — Ashtin Gallagher had a strong debut as McComb's starting quarterback as the Panthers had 41 points by halftime and never looked back against Monroeville. Gallagher completed 16 of 23 passes for 211 yards. He threw for a pair of touchdowns and was intercepted once. The Panthers scored defensive touchdown when Brody Gallagher intercepted Monroeville quarterback Colt Clark and raced 41 yards to the end zone. For the Eagles, Cooper Cleary had a 64-yard touchdown run and Clark scored on a 70-yard run. Monroeville takes to the road in Week 2 to visit Seneca East (1-0). Patrick Henry 42, Edison 21 HAMLER — The Chargers took a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Evan Schnittker to Grant Parker before falling 42-21 to Patrick Henry. PH closed out the first half with two touchdowns — including 69-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the second quarter. Johnstown 34, Vermilion 14 JOHNSTOWN — Vermilion dropped its opener on the road. The Sailors host rival Firelands in Week 2.