Perkins hosts meet the team football event

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins is hungry. After suffering two losses last year by one point apiece, the Pirates are ready to get back to the final game of the season. Perkins — 14-2 and Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division champions last year — had its first meet-and-greet with the 2025 team, followed by an open practice Friday. "This is something new we're doing here," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "I give all the credit to the team moms and dads that put this together. It was an idea they wanted to do and brought it to me in the spring, and I said, 'Absolutely.' This turnout was huge. It's pretty cool to see." Fans were able to join the players and coaches on the field for a variety of drills. There was a concession stand, cornhole, face paintings, 50/50 raffle and schedules and gear for sale. "We have a lot of new faces out there this year, so we're trying to get people ready to go," Santoro said. "We want to get back to where we were last year." The Pirates lost in the Division IV state championship contest Dec. 7. Perkins was just off the beat, losing to Indian Hill 37-36. "I told my best friend this the other day and I put this on everything," senior lineman Eli Sanchez said. "I have not gone a day without thinking about that football game. That's the God honest truth. I can see the hunger starting to click. At first, we were excited we made it to state and we were going to make it back this year. "I think it took us realizing we still have to work." The Pirates return a plethora of talent from that team including quarterback Sam Schweinfurth, linebacker Braxden Martin and Sanchez, who has committed to play at UNLV once his time at Perkins comes to an end. "We've talked so many times about what if we would have done that one extra sprint?" Sanchez said. "If we did a half rep, why didn't we do a full rep? That could have won that football game. One point could be a rep we took off as an individual or as a team. "That's why we're really pushing each other." Schweinfurth led the Lake in five passing categories. He completed 183 of 230 passes for 3,002 yards. He tossed 40 touchdowns and averaged 187.6 yards per game passing. "I still think about it, but in my mind, I want to move on from it," said Schweinfurth, who had just six interceptions last year. "I want to take what I got from that experience and be grateful for it. I want to get back to it this year." Martin was second on the team with 158 tackles behind Dylan Crabtree's 188 stops. Crabtree graduated, meaning there's more room for Martin to vacuum up tackles. Perkins' other loss last year was 15-14 at Edison. In addition, the Pirates' baseball team was state runner-up in Division IV, losing 3-2 to Mentor Lake Catholic on June 15. "It's been putting my head down and getting to work," said Martin, who was a key piece of the baseball team. "I want to be better physically and mentally and every aspect honestly. It's been a quick turnaround. We're headed into our senior season and coming up on our last first game for our high school career. "We want to make the most of it." Perkins opens the season Aug. 22 at Clear Fork. The Colts were 4-7 last year, winning three of their last four regular-season games before an opening-round playoff loss to Ontario. The Pirates bludgeoned Clear Fork in the season opener last year at home, 55-0. "We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of football for us," Santoro said. "Guys that have started since their freshman year and guys that have played in a lot of big games. They've taken meaningful reps. We'll lean on those guys early. That'll give some guys a chance to catch their stride." The Pirates have two major spots to fill after the graduation of Braylon Collier and Isaac Bunts. Collier, who is enrolled at Michigan State, led the league with 84 receptions for 1,423 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also averaged 35.9 yards per punt on 34 punts. Bunts racked up 317 rushes for 2,388 yards and 32 scores. He averaged 149.3 yards per game with all four marks topping the league. A few players that will likely see the ball more include Bryce Davie, who led the league with 21.3 yards per reception. Blake Parker was fourth at 17.7 yards per reception with 36 receptions for 636 yards and six touchdowns. Brady Legando was second at 18.3 yards per catch with 12 receptions for 220 yards. The defense posted six shutouts last year. Additionally, the Pirates allowed seven points in three games. Perkins' last win of the season came against Glenville, 13-11, in a state semifinal at Clyde High School. "It's about getting back on the saddle," Santoro said. "We got to the pinnacle of what you can be as a high school football player and we fell one point short. It's something you can learn from and you talk about it. You get a few weeks off and you get back at it. You use it as a learning lesson."