MADRID — The vagaries of the 2020 season helped create a matchup Friday between two teams who, while close in proximity, had never met on the prep gridiron.
After missing two weeks to COVID-19 issues and having an open date due to Woodward Academy opting not to play this season, Class A Madrid was facing an hole on their schedule. Perry, in Class 3A, also had an opening, as Des Moines Hoover had to cancel their final five games of their season.
That set the two programs against each other in a first-ever matchup, with Madrid scoring 33 second-half points to help create a 47-0 victory.
Perry (0-6) played their best defensive half of the season in holding Madrid (2-2) to only 14 points in the first two quarters, but fell victim to poor field position and constantly being sent back onto the turf as the Bluejay offense went nowhere. The Jays remain the only team in Iowa to not have scored a single point this season.
Tiger quarterback entered the game with one rushing touchdown in three games, but stepped into the end zone five times Friday to scorch the Bluejays. He finished with 177 total rushing yards and added 102 yard through the air.
A 16-yard TD run from Leonard created an early 7-0 lead, but Perry found themselves in excellent position when Juan Hernandez recorded a fumbled punt on the Tiger 22 yard line. Perry went four-and-out, but then received sacks from Pedro Calderon and then from Emmanuel Soto to force a Tiger punt.
Unfortunately, Perry immediately fumbled the ball away, leading to a Conner Williams three-yard scoring dive in the second frame for a 14-0 Madrid edge at the break.
The Bluejay defense continued to play with aggression and determination, limiting the hosts to a Leonard 22-yard TD run in the third stanza, which ended with the score at 20-0.
Eventually the numbers of plays run by the home team wore Perry down, with Leonard scoring on two short runs and then on a 34-yard burst as the lead suddenly swelled to 40-0. A 45-yard interception return for a TD from Matt Fuller capped the scoring.
Official statistics from either school was not available.
Madrid visits Ogden (2-2) Friday in their regular season finale. The Bulldogs were 20-0 winners over Wayne Oct. 2.
Perry will face 2-4 ADM, who nearly upset top-ranked DC-G Friday but fell, 16-14, on a last-second field goal. The Tigers will be playing their fifth home game of the season when they host the Jays. ADM opened with a 41-21 loss at Nevada and a 34-33 overtime loss to Gilbert before beating visiting Norwalk, 50-49, in overtime. A 26-13 loss at Winterset followed, with ADM topping Earlham (on the schedule in place of DM Hoover), 63-23, before the loss to DC-G.
