PERKINS 28, ONTARIO 21
By Kyle Holsinger
TIFFIN — Perkins’ Isaac Bunts scored from eight yards out with 39 seconds left to give the Pirates a 28-21 win over the Ontario Warriors last night for the Division IV, Region 14 title.
“I saw my line get the blocks, and I just went and finished it on my own,” Bunts said.
The senior running back rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns as Perkins (13-1) heads to the state semifinals for the first time since the program won the state title in 1999.
The Pirates got the ball back at their own 46-yard line with 3:14 remaining and the scored tied, 21-21.
After a Sam Schweinfurth completion to senior Braylon Collier for three yards. Perkins coach Jalen Santoro called Bunts number six times in a row; and Bunts answered with gains of six, two, eight, 27, six, and then the final eight yards on the winning touchdown drive to captain the Pirates’ ship when it mattered most.
“Crazy game,” Coach Santoro said. ‘It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. At the end of the say, it don’t matter. We got to find a way to win so that’s what we did.”
An Ontario fumble on the opening play of the game gave the Pirates great field position at the Warrior 30.
Bunts ran for nine-, one-, and 15-yard runs before his five-yard touchdown got the scoring started for Perkins. Freshman Danny Buga’s point-after-try was good, and the Pirates led 7-0 a little over a minute-and-a-half into the contest.
The Perkins defense forced a three-and-out, and Ontario’s Bodpegn Miller’s punt was only eight yards with a 15-mile per hour wind in his face with gusts up to 31 mph.
Bunts took a handoff to the right and slipped defenders off himself with ease for a 20-yard pickup. The next play, he followed his blockers on his way to a 10-yard TD run. Buga’s kick went through the uprights to give the Pirates a 14-0 lead with 8:17 to go in the first quarter.
The Warriors began to put up a fight when Miller threw an 8-yard screen pass to Mason Vantilburg to pick up a first down on third-and-five. Vantilburg ran it up the middle for 22 yards on the next play.
On third-and-nine, Miller scrambled left to avoid pressure and found senior receiver James Mahon for a 12-yard pass. Two plays later, Miller scrambled right for an 8-yard gain for another first down at the Pirates 21.
On second down, Miller found Jon Mahon for an eight-yard reception, setting up first-and-goal. A couple plays later, Miller took an option keeper to the left and dove into the pylon for a 10-yard TD rush. Kooper Kilgore’s PAT was good to get Ontario on the board, 14-7 with 45 seconds left in the first quarter.
Ontario (12-2) had taken up 7:32 over 13 plays on the 80-yard scoring drive.
The teams traded punts until midway through the second quarter. At that point, Ontario got the ball back at their own 45 with 5:53 remaining in the first half.
On third-and-eight, Miller’s seven-yard pass to James Mahon set up the Warriors’ conversion of a ‘Philly Special’ on fourth-and-one to move the chains.
Vantilburg ran for seven yards and then Miller spun to pick up yards after contact on the next play for six yards and a first down for Ontario.
A nine-yard run by Vantilburg set up a third-and-one at the Perkins 22. Vantilburg was tackled for a two-yard loss by a host of Pirates. Miller’s pass on fourth down was incomplete to turn the ball over on downs.
Perkins got the ball to start the second half and went on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
Three plays in, Schweinfurth tossed a pass over the middle to Collier for 11 yards to move the sticks. Bunts had back-to-back seven-yard runs before catching a screen pass from Schweinfurth for 18 yards to get into Warrior territory.
The next play, Bunts ran right and took it the sideline for a 37-yard touchdown. Buga’s PAT made it 21-7 in favor of Perkins.
The Pirates were able to force Ontario to punt and started their next possession at their own 40. Bunts then took off on a 29-yard scamper.
The Warrior defense tightened and Perkins decided to go for it on fourth-and-seven at the Ontario 28. Schweinfurth threw a pass over the middle that fell incomplete for a turnover-on-downs.
Ontario made the most of this opportunity, going 72 yards over 13 plays in a little over four minutes time.
Miller connected with Noah Poole for 13 yards on third-and-nine to advance down the field.
Two plays later, Kilgore took a handoff up the middle and raced to the left for a 32-yard dash to get into Pirate territory.
A false flag penalty almost derailed the drive when Miller passed to Poole for 11 yards and a first-and-goal. Miller was able to score on a one-yard sneak on third-and-goal. Kilgore’s PAT was blocked and the Warriors trailed, 21-13, four seconds into the fourth quarter.
A personal foul penalty by Perkins after the PAT was enforced on the following Ontario kickoff. The Warriors used this to their advantage and were able to convert an onside kick, recovering the ball at the Perkins 36 with a chance to tie the game.
A holding penalty on third-and-10 moved Ontario back to a third-and-25 at midfield. Miller hurled the ball to senior receiver Austin Pence on a cross route for a 16-yard reception to set up fourth-and-nine. Miller then hit Poole over the middle for 15 yards of progress to get the first down.
The Pirates held Ontario to third-and-eight when Kilgore shrugged off defenders on his way to an 18-yard touchdown trek. Miller ran it up the middle to convert the two-point conversion. The game was tied with 8:45 left in the game.
The squads swapped punts before Perkins went on their game-winning drive.
After that, Miller lost a fumble on the first play of Ontario’s final drive, and the Pirates ran out the clock from there to start the Region 14 trophy presentation ceremony.
Perkins passed for 88 yards and rushed for 175 yards for 263 total offensive yards.
Schweinfurth completed 9-of-21 passes for 88 yards. Bunts also led the his team with 33 receiving yards on three catches. Collier led the team with four receptions for 25 yards.
Ontario passed for 94 yards while rushing for 192 yards for 286 total yards.
Miller was 9-of-20 for 94 passing yards with 66 rushing yards and two rushing TDs. Kilgore led the Warriors in rushing with 73 yards on nine carries and a TD. Vantilburg had 13 attempts for A 52 rushing yards. Poole had three receptions for 41 yards.
Perkins will face the back-to-back defending state champion, Cleveland Glenville (11-3), in the Division IV state semifinals at the Robert J. Bishop Stadium in Clyde next Friday at 7 p.m. Glenville defeated Perry in overtime last night, 12-6.
Liberty Center 34, Milan Edison 6
Edison (13-1) scored first when QB Abe Hermes ran 59 yards for a TD in the first quarter. It was all Tigers after that. Liberty Center (14-0) faces South Range (14-0) on Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium in Parma next Friday at 7 p.m.
