Sanchez, seniors leave winning legacy at Perkins

PERKINS TWP. — Eli Sanchez signed Wednesday to play football for Nevada-Las Vegas as Perkins football turns the page after another strong season. Sanchez, a three-time All-Sandusky Bay Conference lineman — and in many ways the face of Perkins football the past few years — was part of a four-year run that saw the Pirates go 45-9 and win 11 playoff games. "He was a blue-collar type kid, a hard worker who exemplifies toughness," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "He's a big piece of the culture of what we are and what we have been. Not only are we gonna miss him as far as his play goes, but as the culture piece he was for our team." Sanchez, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound center, has a Type-A personality and plays with a mean streak. In addition to his football honors, the 3-star recruit was the Division II runner-up heavyweight at last March's state wrestling tournament. Before signing his UNLV papers in front of family and friends at Perkins, Sanchez thanked God and his family, including his mother, Jamie Artip, who died last year. "I thank my family for everything they've done, especially my dad (Jose), from Day 1 pushing me to be the best athlete and best kid I could be," Sanchez said. "I want to take a special moment to thank my mom. I know she's looking down, proud as heck telling everybody about it. If she could make a Facebook post right now she probably would." Sanchez, who will graduate from Perkins on Dec. 19 and report to UNLV on Jan. 15, will study healthcare administration. He was part of a 13-man senior class that helped set the bar high at Perkins. The graduating class also includes record-setting quarterback Sam Schweinfurth, two-way standouts Braxden Martin and Joey Ziegler and wide receiver Blake Parker, who announced Wednesday he has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Ohio University. Ziegler, a standout lineman who tore his right ACL for the second time in the Pirates' regional semifinal loss to Galion, is undecided whether he'll play college football. "It's always bittersweet to see them leave," Santoro said. "That's always the hardest part of any football season, not necessarily the loss at the end of the year but just the fact you're not coaching that group of guys anymore." Perkins was the state runner-up in Division IV last year and finished 9-4 this year after an uneven 1-3 start. The state finals begin Thursday in Canton and the Pirates want to return to that venue. "I think we had a great season; we fought through a lot of adversity," Santoro said. "It wasn't exactly how we pictured it, but we fought hard and went on a roll and did a lot of great things. But at the same time we look back as a program and our standards are our standards. Those aren't going to change. You want to be playing in the last game at the end of the year." The Pirates, who have enjoyed five straight seasons of nine wins or more, have plenty of firepower returning and welcome two newcomers who should make an immediate impact. Dante Shipp Jr., who grew up in the Perkins system before transferring to Sandusky, has returned to Perkins. He'll be a junior next year. Grant Kuhnle, a standout quarterback at St. Paul, is another promising addition. "Everything's a competition. They're really good players and have done a lot of good things," Santoro said. "Obviously excited to work with them." Shipp should make an immediate impact as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner. The second team All-SBC Lake selection caught 22 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns this year for the Blue Streaks. He also made 62 tackles and grabbed four interceptions. "He's a player, a really good athlete," Santoro said. "He's got a nose for the ball and makes things happen. He kind of got has that 'it' factor about him." Kuhnle, who will be a senior next year, threw for 1,768 yards and 16 touchdowns and was a second team All-Firelands Conference choice for St. Paul. "Haven't had a chance to work with him yet, but he has a good chance to play quarterback, absolutely," Santoro said. "Kind of reminds me of Sammy (Schweinfurth) a little bit, just a taller kid. He can sling it around." Santoro also expects 6-2, 260-pound Javier Keys — who was slated to be the starting left tackle before a knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2025 season — to be ready for his senior season. Perkins also will return all-district defensive backs Kaden Legando and Bryce Davie, who combined for 11 interceptions. Two-way standouts Levi Jackson, Jojo Moore and Connor Smith also will be back. Leading tackler Landon Flores will help anchor the defense from the linebacker position. "We got a lot to talent all over the field, a lot of depth in our skill positions," Santoro said. "We have to develop some guys up front. Some other guys will get some opportunities next year. Joey and Eli were starters for three years so we'll have some guys who will get a chance to fill some big shoes and make a name for themselves." First, the Pirates will hit the weight room. "I think we'll have a really good football team," Santoro said. "A lot of it depends on how hard we work in the offseason. Our weight-room attendance has been our calling card. Our 6 a.m. lifts, we really haven't had a guy miss the last few years. That's a tell-tale sign for me when we start that up. "If we get the numbers we normally have, we'll have a pretty good season."