A pair of misplayed field goal attempts and a bare handful of defensive lapses combined to keep Perry from recording their first victory of the season Friday, as North Polk slipped away with an 8-6 win at Dewey Field.
Perry (0-4) produced more yards than North Polk (3-1), especially on the ground, where the 82 rushing yards compiled by the Comets on 32 carries was barely more than half the 162 accumulated, on 45 hauls, by the Bluejays. The guests finished with a 107-52 edge through the air.
North Polk scored on the first play of the fourth quarter when Logan Engebretson dove across the goal line from two yards away. Quentin Sommers grabbed a two-point conversion pass from Colten Parkins for an 8-0 lead.
The score capped an eight-play, 87-yard drive from the guests. Perry had chances to stifle the drive, but a missed tackle allowed one first down, with the Jays later allowing 18 yards on a second-and-21 to help keep the drive marching. The Comets reached faced a fourth-and-one from the Perry three-yard line when the Jays jumped offside — one of only four accepted penalties on the hosts — to grant a first down and set up the only visitor points.
An inaccurate snap had resulted in Cori Alamina’s 37-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter being blocked, and the field goal unit experienced a similar setback with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.
Perry had marched crisply down the grid but were forced to settle for a 27-yard attempt by Alamina. The snap was low, and holder Kaleb Olejniczak — the Perry quarterback — scooped up the ball and just missed connecting with Jared Narber in the end zone on the ensuing scramble.
Trailing 8-0 midway through the fourth the Perry offense began another sharp drive. A 41-yard run from Olejniczak and a 12-yard completion to Kato Dougan helped spark the attack, which culminated with Dougan pulling in a 10-yard TD pass from Olejniczak with 3:30 to play. The two-point conversion pass was deflected wide of Narber, leaving Perry facing an 8-6 deficit.
Mario Cruz was brought in to kick off instead of Alamina and intentionally booted a soft 20-25 yard onside kick down the right sideline, where Olejniczak beat a Comet player to the ball, with his diving recovery giving Perry the ball on the 34-yard line.
The large Perry crowd had nearly packed the north side bleachers and had been quite vocal throughout. The onside recovery had the partisans in full voice, but the Jays went backwards rather than forwards, losing seven yards in two plays and then being unable to gain a first down to keep their chances alive.
Parkins finished 12-of-22 for 107 yards for the guests. He was intercepted once.
Engbretson caught six passes for 69 yards, Sommers three for 31 yards, Dylan Meiners one for six yards and Ryan Fayscg two for one yard.
Engbretson gained 80 yards on 20 carries and had the short TD run, with Thomas Jones adding nine yards on eight rushes while Parkins ran four times for a loss of eight yards.
Olejniczak was 7-of-16 for 52 yards and a TD through the air while being picked off once. Dougan (5-42, 1 TD) and Narber (2-10) caught the completions.
Olejniczak ran for 80 yards on 23 carries with Justin Stammer pounding out 69 yards on 19 rushes. Dougan ran twice for eight yards, with Alamina carrying once for four yards.
Ever Tobar had an interception for the hosts. Tackle statistics were not available, but several Jays played well defensively.
Defensive tackles Luke Holtorf and Mike Echeverria, with help from Rony Reyes, Cole Snyder, Conner Kenyon and Stammer, kept the middle clogged throughout the game. The Comets were held to negative yards — or a gain of two or less — on 14 of their rushing attempts, with Parkins sacked by Holforf and Xavier Craddock.
Perry will now begin Class 3A District 2 play to finish out the season. A visit from winless DC-G, who fell to Glenwood, 35-14, Friday, will kick off D2 play September 21.
