Sports
Tri-Valley, Perry Boast Similar Characteristics
By: Jordan Gallagher, Megan Stamper
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Just two years ago, the Massillon Perry Panthers finished the regular season 0-10, while the Tri-Valley Scotties finished 8-2.
Times have changed. Perry has since gotten out of its funk and completed its best regular season since 2006, earning it a No. 1 seed in D-II, region five and eventually a clash with the fifth-seeded Scotties.
In their win over Boardman in round one, the Scotties stuck to the same script they’ve followed all season: pound the rock and win defensive battles. Tri-Valley shut down a previously potent Boardman offense, holding it to two points and 150 total yards, while exploding for 243 rushing yards, controlling the game’s flow on both sides of the ball.
Tri-Valley will be hard-pressed to do the same against a Perry squad with similar characteristics. Since week two, the Panthers have not allowed more than 17 points in a game and have pitched shutouts in three of its last four games.
On the other side of the ball, running back Keishaun Sims has shredded northeastern Ohio defenses. Sims has accumulated a whopping 2,462 yards and 36 touchdowns, including 268 yards and five touchdowns in Perry’s 35-0 win against Mansfield Senior, Perry’s first playoff win since 2002.
For those not doing the math at home, that’s an average of 223.8 yards and over three touchdowns per game.
With each team’s styles mirroring one another, play in the trenches will become all the more important. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 at Dover High School.