Perkins sends message with shutout of Bellevue

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins is starting to click. The Pirates — who took the field for their homecoming game Friday with just one win in four outings — celebrated at Firelands Health Stadium with a 41-0 win over Bellevue. Perkins, now 2-3, has something to build on when it opens Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division play next week at home against Clyde. "We stressed to these guys that it was a big game and we wanted to get back on track," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "That's a culture win for us." Perkins completely dominated Bellevue, outgaining the Redmen 390-93 in a game played under a running clock for the entire fourth quarter. Perkins senior quarterback Sam Schweinfurth completed 23 of 29 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns working behind an offensive line consisting of Joey Ziegler, Bob Hutchinson, Eli Sanchez, Wyatt Fantozz and Carter Koch. "We got a consistent O-line in front of him, and some guys have played now for the first time ever two weeks in a row," Santoro said. "When you give Sammy a clean pocket, he's a dangerous quarterback." Perkins threw plenty of wide receiver screen passes, utilizing a speed advantage on the edges. "We took advantage of them playing deep," Schweinfurth said. "If they were gonna give us the screen, we were gonna take it." Senior wide receiver Blake Parker caught 12 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. Eight of his receptions came in the first half as Perkins built a 20-0 lead at the break. "We have a great connection; it's automatic for us," Schweinfurth said. The Pirates converted 6 of 10 third downs and gained 133 yards rushing — the first time this season Perkins has hit 100 on the ground. Braxden Martin carried nine times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Bellevue quarterback Ike Brown got off to a fast start, connecting with Owen Hancock for 13 and 15 yards on consecutive plays on the game's first possession. But after the Redmen punted, Perkins chewed up more than six minutes before Grant Hickman made a 36-yard field goal to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. Hickman capped off the first half with a 42-yard field goal into the wind. He is 5 for 5 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points this season. "He's a Division I college kicker. He's that good," Santoro said. "We've got a lot of faith and confidence in him. When we get an opportunity to let him showcase his stuff we're gonna do it." Connor Smith intercepted Brown on Bellevue's next possession. On the next play, Schweinfurth hit Parker for a 39-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. Levi Jackson added a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as Perkins piled up 220 yards in the first half. Perkins added to a commanding lead on the first possession of the second half. Martin scored on a one-yard run after Schweinfurth connected with Bryce Davie on a 33-yard receiver screen. "It's a numbers thing," Santoro said of the continued use of the receiver screen. "We try to make them defend all 53 yards (the width) of the field." Davie caught a 13-yard touchdown pass at the pylon to make it 34-0 late in the third quarter. Logan Wadsworth's 21-yard run with 2:20 to play accounted for the final score. Evan Bova carried 12 times for 37 yards for Bellevue, which dropped to 3-2. It was Perkins' fourth straight win against the Redmen. The last three have been by a cumulative score of 133-0. Perkins, the Division IV state runner-up last year, suddenly looks like a team capable of doing serious damage in the coming weeks. The Pirates' last five regular-season opponents were a combined 5-15 when they took the field Friday. "We're getting back to playing Pirate football," Santoro said. Bellevue 0 0 0 0 — 0Perkins 10 10 14 7 — 41 P — Grant Hickman 36 field goalP — Blake Parker 39 pass from Sam Schweinfurth (Hickman kick)P — Levi Jackson 13 run (Hickman kick)P — Hickman 42 field goalP — Braxden Martin 1 run (Danny Buga kick)P — Bryce Davie 13 pass from Schweinfurth (Hickman kick)P — Logan Wadsworth 21 run (Buga kick)