'Let's go, Pirates!'

PERKINS TWP. — Let's go, Pirates! Let's go, Pirates! The chant echoed throughout the halls of Perkins Schools buildings this week as the district's football team hopes to make Pirate history at Saturday's state title game. Throughout the week, Perkins Schools has been celebrating its team with pep rallies, banners and cards with encouraging words. Each building had something special planned for the team. Game-week festivities The youngest classes of Pirates at Furry Elementary made banners to hang in the high school locker rooms and created good luck messages for the players. Meadowlawn Intermediate School students made cards for the players to read as they made their way to the game and had a school spirit day on Friday. Before Friday's excitement in its own building, the high school football team and cheerleaders stopped by Furry Elementary and Meandowlawn Intermediate School on Thursday. The high school students walked the halls as the younger students cheered for them with encouraging signs and hands out for high fives. The Pirates started their trip to Canton on Friday afternoon but not before making a stop at Briar Middle School. Briar Middle School students filled the gym as their special guests, the football team and cheerleaders excited them for Saturday evening for when they take on the Indian Valley Braves at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. They were encouraged to bring excitement to the Canton bleachers and practiced a "Let's Go Pirates" cheer. After the high school and middle school cheerleaders led the stands in more cheers, the pep rally closed with a video of football highlights created by William Rosekelly, a senior at Perkins High School. Staff and students alike expressed excitement at seeing their team move up in the ranks. Some have a personal connection to the team and spoke about what a win would mean to them and their district. Isabella Sanchez, an eighth-grade student at Briar Middle School, said she and her family are excited to watch her brother, Perkins High School junior Eli Sanchez, take on Indian Valley. Sanchez said making it to the championship shows the honor and reputation her brother brings to their family. The game is a big deal to not only the football team or her family, but the district as a whole. "Anything is possible no matter what sport as long as you work as a team," Sanchez said. "They couldn't do it without each other." Sanchez said she has mixed feelings of nerves and excitement for her brother going into tomorrow, but she will be in the stands supporting him. "It's a pretty big moment for him," Sanchez said. "It looks great for his offers and the people that are looking at him." Brienne Collier, a sixth-grade student at Briar Middle School, is confident her brother, Braylon Collier, who is a senior at Perkins High School, and the rest of the Pirates are going to win and she feels pretty good about cheering them on in the stands. "It really means a lot because it shows how hard they worked and stuff so I'm really proud," Brienne said. "It means a lot to (her family) because they're really proud of my brother." Brienne is also excited for Braylon's future in football after he graduates. Braylon will continue his sports career at Michigan State University where he will also study business and marketing. Saturday's game will be the first time Perkins Schools returns to a state championship field since 1999 when the Pirates defeated Ironton to win the title. One of that team's former players Alan Speer, who's now an eighth-grade math teacher at Briar, plans to cheer for his home team in the stands. "It's kind of full circle," Speer said. "I'm more excited not because I played years ago but because I had these kids in class." Speer reflected on the connection he has with the current high school team and noted the work ethic they have. He said it's cool to watch them accomplish something like this and be able to relate to them. All week, Speer said he was letting people know this was going to be the longest but most exciting week of their lives while the actual game would be the easy part. Speer said he believes the team can earn another title if they can control the line of scrimmage. "If they do what they have been doing all year long, they will be fine," he said. Speer agreed with others in the district that playing in this game is more than an accomplishment for the team or their families. He said it reaches around the community as well. "To me, the community is the biggest thing," Speer said. "That's one thing I remember." Pirates get grand sendoff Then, on Friday, Perkins High School students and district families provided a rousing sendoff to the school's football players ahead of their departure to Canton. The players, joined by the high school's band and cheerleaders, marched through the halls of the high school. They made their way outside the school facility to cheers from friends and family before boarding their buses. Supporters waved Perkins Pirates flags, and many brought banners and signs with words of encouragement to the departing athletes. Groups of supporters stopped by the door of the bus to offer final farewells. Those buses, with an escort from township police and fire personnel, stopped by other district schools before getting on the road for their nearly 100-mile trek to Canton.