Ziegler brothers back at home with Perkins

PERKINS TWP. — The Ziegler brothers are back where it all started. Jacob and Joey, a senior and a sophomore, are two key contributors along the line for Perkins (12-0), which plays in a regional final Friday night against Glenville. Both grew up around the Pirates, and in their first year of varsity football at PHS, they've been part of one of the best teams in program history. "It's awesome," Jacob said. "It's something I never imagined. Regional final games have only happened a few times in Perkins history. It's great to be out there with everybody still playing." This is where the Ziegler brothers grew up. They were frequently around the field when their father, Jason, coached Perkins. They learned the game from their dad, a high school hall of fame lineman at Poland Seminary. Aside from a brief middle-school dalliance at tight end by Jacob, they were destined to be linemen. They discuss the position at home sometimes — including a couple of Jacob's favorite blockers from the Browns, Joe Thomas and Wyatt Teller. But they also don't mind giving each other some grief. "We just like getting after each other and throwing shade sometimes," Joey said. For a while, it looked like this chance might not come at Perkins. Jason joined the Norwalk staff in 2020, and Jacob went with him. Last fall, Joey joined as a freshman for the Truckers. But changes with the Norwalk staff brought the Ziegler brothers back to Perkins. It was like they'd never left. "We grew up together, him and (Kaiden) Nixon and I and (Cam) Fosco and Wyatt (Nemitz)," senior quarterback Logan Lesch said. "... When he came back, we picked up right where we left off. We love having him back." The happy homecoming was almost spoiled on the final day of summer two-a-days. Jacob broke the fifth metatarsal, the outermost bone, in his left foot on a routine block. It was the same bone he'd broken about six months earlier while playing basketball. "It sucked," Joey said. "I felt bad for him. I really wished I could do something to help him, but all we could do was wait. It made me want to be a better person and step into a role just for him." All along, Jacob knew his timeline for return could get him back in time to contribute to a postseason run in his senior season. In the meantime, all he could do was put his leg up on a scooter and roll around for weeks and weeks. "Man, that was fun, it was fast, but it was a hassle at times," Jacob said. "I actually had it stolen at a Browns game, but that's a whole 'nother story." With Jacob out, Joey's presence was even more crucial. The big sophomore got time on both the offensive and defensive lines and is still a rotational player in both groups with everyone at full strength. "It's always great watching your brother play," Jacob said. "He's been playing a lot of defense, and watching defensive players is fun… Joey plays nasty. He plays angry." Jacob made it back into game action in Week 10 in Tiffin and has taken on full-time right tackle duties in the playoffs. "It's just pushed me to want to be where he's at," Joey said. "I've always wanted to be that guy that he is, best lineman in the SBC. I've always wanted to be like him and always looked up to him… He's good all around. He doesn't really have a weakness." It's not lost on the brothers how special this opportunity has been. With the two-year age gap, they'd never had much opportunity to be on the same tackle football team. And it's not just any team — it's the program they were fans of growing up, and it's a regional finalist with a chance for more. "It's awesome," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "At this point, luckily, it makes for a good story. (Jacob) gets back at the right time." Jacob, at 6-4 and 285 pounds, and Joey, right behind at 6-3 and 275 pounds, know facing off with the defending state champions will be a challenge. They also know they've put in the work to be ready for it. "We have to really focus on getting everyone better with the players around you," Jacob said. "You always have to go 100 percent, but these weeks for sure you have to go 100 percent. You really challenge the person across from you, even if they're a scout team player, to come at you 100 percent because that's what you're gonna need against teams like Glenville." No matter what happens, they'll always have these memories. They got to spend time after Monday's practice sharing some Raising Cane's, a gift from their quarterback for keeping him from being sacked by West Holmes. They're sharing the same locker room, the same sidelines, the same chances to provide support and motivation for each other. They're even sharing the footwear. Like their father, Jacob and Joey are huge fans of Crocs. It's certainly a great time to be a Ziegler brother.