LAST YEAR — Tiger senior quarterback Jared Gescheidler was simply too good for the Bluejays to contain, as he ran 13 times for 216 yards and all five touchdowns in the game and was 8-of-15 for 138 yards passing in a 35-0 Gilbert win over visiting Perry.
The Bluejays threw for only 28 yards but ran for 203, with 54 yards on 10 carries from Eli Saemisch the best output by any Perry player who returns for the rematch.
Joe Olvera (5) and Alonzo Zarate (4) are the lead returning tacklers from the game for the Jays.
ABOUT THE TIGERS — Gilbert opened their season with a 42-19 loss at Webster City before bouncing back with a 40-37 win over visiting Boone last week.
Cole Drzycimski is but 10-of-40 from 141 yards and one TD passing while tossing three interceptions, but the 6-0, 180-pound senior has carried 32 times for 123 yards and a score.
Cody Dvorak, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, has carried only 11 times but has four TDs and 206 yards while Zach Becker has added a score and 144 yards on 28 rushes.
Ryan Blum (3-61) and Dvorak (3-25) are the leading receivers.
The return game has sparkled, with Eric Swart owning a 95-yard kick return for a TD and Dvorak a 48-yard punt return for a TD.
Swart’s 14 tackles and Dvorak’s 13.5 stops pace the defense.
ABOUT THE BLUEJAYS — Perry dropped a tough 14-13 decision to visiting ADM in week one and was shut out, 24-0, at North Polk last week.
The offense has, in a word, struggled. Senior quarterback Ryan Rathje is 26-of-44 for 208 yards, one score and three interceptions, but the ground game was totaled only 77 yards on 47 rushes through two games.
Taviar Lucas has 13 catches for 110 yards and the only offensive score of the season, with Marcus Meri (5-57) and Eli Saemisch (4-17) the top three targets for Rathje.
Saemisch (24-64) and Gage Welch (8-49) lead the rushing statistics.
Mark Campos (15.5), Solomon Pierce (13), Nic Fellom (12) and Saemisch and Adan Medina (11.5 each) lead the defense in tackles. Saemisch has five stops for a loss, Pierce four and Campos three.
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PROBABLE STARTERS
PERRY Offense GILBERT Defense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
72 LT Joe Olvera 12 6-2 270 98 DE Austin Graber 12 6-3 200
67 LG Tyler Soll 11 6-0 265 78 DT Eli Harris 12 5-11 285
79 C Gil Garcia 12 5-8 245 61 DT Christian Harder 11 6-0 225
75 RG Kevin Lopez 11 5-8 210 60 DE Jeb Shaw 11 6-2 190
66 RT J.R. McCord 12 6-0 255 11 OLB Zach Becker 12 5-6 195
84 TE Marcus Meri 12 6-1 180 55 ILB Aaron Rinehart 12 5-10 195
4 QB Ryan Rathje 12 6-4 170 22 OLB Jack Currans 11 5-11 185
35 FB Adan Medina 11 6-1 185 5 CB Ryan Blum 12 5-10 185
27 TB Eli Saemisch 12 6-0 190 35 S Cody Dvorak 11 5-10 185
22 WR Jacob Thompson 12 5-10 160 20 S Eric Swart 10 5-11 150
13 WR Tavier Lucas 12 5-10 190 14 CB Steven Lawrence 11 5-9 150
8 PK Ivan Garcia 12 5-5 145
PERRY Defense GILBERT Offense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
83 DE Solomon Pierce 12 6-3 190 58 LT Austin Brause 11 6-0 225
72 DT Joe Olvera 12 6-2 270 55 LG Aaron Rinehart 12 5-10 195
67 DT Tyler Soll 11 6-0 265 64 C Grant Samson 11 5-9 180
27 DE Eli Saemisch 12 6-0 190 61 RG Christian Harder 11 6-0 225
26 OLB Nic Fellom 11 5-8 150 76 RT Christopher McGuire 12 6-2 210
28 ILB Mark Campos 10 5-9 195 98 TE Austin Graber 12 6-3 200
35 OLB Adan Medina 11 6-1 185 5 WR Ryan Blum 12 5-10 185
22 CB Jacob Thompson 12 5-10 160 35 SB Cody Dvorak 11 5-10 185
25 SS Donald Chavez 10 5-6 140 16 QB Cole Drzcymski 12 5-10 175
2 FS Kade VanKirk 12 5-8 140 22 FB Jack Currans 11 5-11 185
8 CB Ivan Garcia 12 5-5 145 11 TB Zach Becker 12 5-6 195
22 P Jacob Thompson 12 5-10 160
NOTES: Gilbert did not provide PK/P and listed as possible TE #85 Philip Roetman (11 5-9 170) with Drzcymski/Lawrence each listed at both QB and CB. As of time of posting, changes on Perry offense line were possible.