By Jeremy McDonald

Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

BROOKS, Ore.–  Energy has been the mojo for Perrydale this season, and coming off a week break the question became will they have any coming out of the break.

Willamette Valley Christian kept it close going into the fourth quarter of the 38-25 Pirates win.  Hanging with the one-loss Perrydale squad down 28-23 with their aggressive play as they rose to the challenge on Homecoming Night.

 “We were ready to play.  This whole time we wanted to rebound and box out everytime, and I felt like we were doing that until that one run in the fourth quarter and that kind of finished it off,” the Warriors’ Ben Sellers said.

But something clicked in the fourth quarter for the Pirates.  An energetic start with a loud crowd that was at the game Friday night fed Perrydale as they quickly built a 32-23 lead.

“Oh it was pretty big,” smiled the Pirates Kamren Poulson.  “It helps, but it helped us finish.  This game was tough because we took a week off because we had to quarantine and we’re coming back strongly.  This fourth quarter meant a lot and we’re just going to keep continuing it until the end.”

Perrydale held Willamette Valley Christian in check for the fourth quarter.  Limiting the Warriors to two fourth quarter points as they picked up their 11th win of the year and seventh in Casco League play.  Shaking off the rust from their time-off as they’ll play at Mannahouse Chrsitian Saturday and home against St. Paul on Monday. 

“It’s been pretty amazing actually,” Poulson said of the start.  “I’m just really happy with how it’s going this season.”

For Willamette Valley Christian, this game served as a reminder that they can keep up with one of the top teams in league as the Pirates and Crosshill Christian are the lone undefeated teams left in the Casco League, it’s just a matter of finishing those opportunities with they present themselves as they travel to Oregon School for the Deaf on Monday.

“We can compete with anyone in this league.  But as long as we can play unselfish, start as we did and play aggressive and as a team, I think we can beat anybody,” Sellers said.

Sellers finished with a team-high ten points with Ben Norbo adding another seven.  Poulson and Kaej Haynes each finished with  a game-high 11 points apiece.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald