Perry 48, CVCA 34: Pirates rush for 282 yards to advance in Div. IV, Region 13

PERRY, Ohio -- Eight seeds versus one seeds normally don't end up being nail biters, but Saturday night was the exception where spectators found their eyes locked into a great OHSAA Division IV Region 13 playoff game that saw eight-seed Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy fall to Perry, 48-34.

It was a tale of two halves and two playmakers. Perry led 27-6 with just over two minutes left in the first half thanks mainly to sophomore running back Jaylen Anderson, who earned 102 of his 137 rushing yards and a pair of scores in the first half.

“We’re just starting to scratch the surface [with him] right now,” said Pirate head coach Matt Rosati. “We’re hoping we can ride him here down the stretch.”

But CVCA narrowed a 21-point third-quarter deficit to a single score with 6:08 left in the ballgame. An incomplete fourth-down pass would ultimately doom the Royals, capping a defensive stand by Perry.

Royals wide receiver Tre Tucker, threw, ran and caught a touchdown Saturday night. He ran 27 times for 146 yards and two scores to go along with six catches for 67 yards and another TD -- and there was a 16-yard touchdown pass to Andre’ Price.

“[Tucker] is an unbelievable talent,” says Rosati, “I give them a lot of credit, but our guys stepped up when we needed it.”

Zach Harley is a freelancer from Parma, Ohio.