Collier shows versatility as Perkins defeats Clyde

PERKINS TWP. — Is there anything Braylon Collier can't do? The Michigan State recruit will play wide receiver in college and did that Friday with three catches for 39 yards. But, the senior completed a double pass to Brady Legando, snatched a key interception just before halftime, and averaged 53 yards a punt for Perkins. The Division IV No. 1 Pirates battled past sloppy weather and a tough Clyde squad team, 28-7, in Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division action. "Wide receiver is my main position, but stepping up when the team needs me, playing defensive back was just being a team player and not being selfish," Collier said. "I didn't have the mindset of not playing defense because I didn't care. I give it my all every time I'm out on the field." Collier will get plenty of attention out wide, but coach Jalen Santoro knows he has to find different ways for Collier to impact the game. "It's about finding ways to get your playmakers the ball," Santoro said. "When the weather is like this, you have to find ways to make it happen. We had a game like this before and I sat at halftime thinking of how to get (Collier) the ball." Perkins (6-0, 1-0 SBC Lake) led just 14-7 at halftime, but executed to start the second half. Sam Schweinfurth hit Collier for a 34-yard pickup to immediately give the Pirates a chance. Isaac Bunts kept his big game going, but Perkins needed to execute a fourth-down to score. Facing fourth-and-5, Schweinfurth hit Bunts on a bit of a fade and he scored from 22 yards. It was the second fourth-down touchdown of the game for Perkins. The extra point by Danny Buga gave the Pirates a 21-7 lead less than two minutes into the second half. "He's a great running back," said Clyde coach Ryan Carter of Bunts. "They have big kids up front that can move you. I thought our defense played phenomenal. I thought our guys tackled well." From there, Perkins did work defensively. The Fliers (4-2, 0-1) tallied 13 total yards on its first two drives, not mustering much against the Pirates' defense that came in with four shutouts in their first five games. Perkins was able to grind the clock away behind Bunts. With heavy, sideways rain at times, Bunts was crucial for the Pirates. He scored on a 12-yard run late to put the game away. He racked up 35 carries for 157 yards for Perkins. "Isaac is a workhorse," Santoro said. "He's one we trust to have the ball in his hands when the weather is coming down like this." It was Clyde that got on the board first - the first time this season the Pirates didn't score first in a game. Brennan Wilson picked up seven yards for the Fliers' first first down of the game. Clyde followed it up with a 19-yard pass from Jonathan Lantz to Kam Shortridge before Adam Young churned out 36 yards. The Fliers picked up another first down before a one-yard touchdown run by Wilson. The extra point by Tyler Soper put Clyde up 7-0 with 4:28 left in the first quarter. "100 percent, I think we fought the entire night," Carter said. "That's a darn good football team - a well-constructed team. I asked our kids to come out and fight and not back down. There's no moral victories in our program. That's not something for us, but I was proud of their effort and the way we played." Perkins responded. Bunts went for 11 yards on the next drive before Schweinfurth hit passes to Collier and Bunts. The Pirates went back to the ground as Bunts rumbled 18 yards and scored from a yard out a few plays later. The point-after by Buga tied it at 7 with 44 seconds to go in the first quarter. The Pirates kept things going in the second quarter. Bunts jumpstarted the next drive with a 22-yard gain, but later, Perkins again faced a fourth down. It converted once more as Schweinfurth found Bryce Davie in stride for a 37-yard TD. That pushed Perkins up 14-7 with 5:13 to go until halftime. Clyde looked to respond, methodically moving down the field. With the offense bouncing between Wilson and Lantz at quarterback, the Fliers picked up a first down inside the Perkins 10. But, it was Collier to the rescue, as he picked off a pass to keep Perkins up 14-7 at halftime. "It's Lake football," Santoro said. "There's a lot of familiarities. It is always a tough game. They're a good team. They're a well-coached team." Wilson finished 11-of-18 passing for 71 yards while Lantz was 4-of-7 for 39 yards. Adam Young led the rushing with nine carries for 64 yards for Clyde. "I didn't think we played too bad offensively," Carter said. "I thought we just couldn't finish drives. Part of that is because they're pretty good on defense. We moved the football. We had opportunities, but we just didn't finish. Against a good team when you don't finish, that'll hurt you." Schweinfurth was 8-of-13 for 161 yards. Bunts caught two passes for 39 yards. Collier's pass to Legando went for 31 yards. It kept the drive alive for Perkins, but the Pirates came up scoreless on that possession. "That's my pocket composure," said Collier of an oncoming Clyde defender. "I couldn't take too much time. The throw was a little bit in front of me so I had to set my feet and spin away from the defender. I saw Brady for a split second and I knew he was down there somewhere." The Pirates travel to Division V, No. 10 Edison (6-0) next week in a battle of state-ranked teams. "We faced a little bit of adversity but at the end of the day, it's about coming out on top afterwards," Santoro said. "I think our guys did a good job of coming out of halftime with their heads up and refocusing." Clyde 7 0 0 0 — 7Perkins 7 7 7 7 — 28 C — Brennan Wilson 1 run (Tyler Soper kick)P — Isaac Bunts 1 run (Danny Buga kick)P — Bryce Davie 37 pass from Sam Schweinfurth (Buga kick)P — Bunts 22 pass from Schweinfurth (Buga kick)P — Bunts 12 run (Buga kick)