NEVADA — The prep football postseason begins Friday, with Perry (0-7) traveling to Nevada (5-2) in a Class 3A Pod 14 pairing. Boone (0-7) faces Ballard (6-1) in the other Pod 14 contest, with the winners to face off Oct. 23.
The Bluejays hosted the Cubs last season, with Nevada pulling away in the fourth quarter to escape with a 34-23 win at Dewey Field.
The Cubs began 2020 with five consecutive wins before dropping their last two games. Nevada has defeated ADM (41-21), Roland-Story (63-6), Bondurant-Farrar (23-20), Knoxville (57-7), and North Polk (39-12). Host Carlisle defeated Nevada, 29-20, Oct. 2, with Pella a 35-7 victory, in Nevada, Oct. 9. ADM is the only common foe between the Friday’s two teams, with the Tigers a 70-0 winner over the visiting Jays Oct. 9.
While Nevada has a combined scoring advantage of 250-130, Perry is the only school in the state to have not scored a single point of any kind. The Perry defense has been assailed for 375 points in seven games.
The offensive woes rank Perry last among all classes with only 116 combined yards — 86 through the air (326th of 328) and 30 (328th) on the ground.
Jeremiah Baker has been the most effective passer, completing 10-of-36 attemptes for 73 yards while being intercepted three times. Cayden Widen has caught seven passes for 32 yards and Abraham Ruiz five aerials for 28 yards to lead Bluejay receivers. Ruiz (42-49) and Jeremiah Cregeeen (30-42) top the ground gainers.
Emmanuel Soto leads the defense with 34 tackles, with Gavin Hegstrom making 20 stops and Tanner Burgin 19. Darwin Sarceno has returned an interception six yards, with Juan Hernandez also intercepting a pass.
Blake Bottof is 77-of-117 for 1,235 yards through the air for Nevada. He has thrown eight touchdowns and has been intercepted six times.
Caeden DaSilva has pulled in 35 passes for 561 yards and six TDs, with Ayden Rhodes making 24 snags for 369 yards and a score to lead the receiving corps.
The Cubs have rushed 269 times for 1,585 yards and 26 TDs, with Caden Jones (167-1,037, 21 TDs) covering the bulk of the duties.
Caleb Kooiker (59) and Cael Franzen (51) are the leading tacklers for a defense that has picked off eight passes by their opponents while recovering eight fumbles for turnovers.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. Admission is $6.
