PIRATES MARCHING ON TO THE FINALS

PERRY, OH – The Perry Pirates continued their march toward a potential state championship Friday night, delivering another dominant performance with a 45-0 shutout of previously unbeaten Garrettsville Garfield in the Division V, Region 17 Semifinals. In a matchup featuring two teams that entered the night with perfect 11-0 records, the top-seeded Pirates controlled the action on both sides of the football, improving to 12-0 and earning a spot in the regional championship against Girard.

Perry wasted little time making its presence felt, as Chase Sivon electrified the home crowd with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help set the tone. The Pirates carried that momentum throughout the contest, combining an efficient passing attack, a productive ground game, and a suffocating defensive effort to overwhelm a Garfield team that had enjoyed an outstanding season of its own.

Quarterback Nate Trefzger turned in an impressive performance directing the Perry offense, completing 13 of his 16 passing attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown. Trefzger spread the football around effectively, with four different Pirates recording multiple receptions. Brody Krantz emerged as his top target, hauling in four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown as Perry consistently found ways to move the chains and generate explosive plays.

The Pirates also established themselves on the ground, with Carter Hopkins leading the rushing attack. Hopkins carried the football 10 times for 62 yards and found the end zone twice, providing Perry with another reliable scoring threat. The balanced offensive attack kept Garfield’s defense on its heels throughout the evening, as the Pirates piled up 381 yards of total offense and recorded 21 first downs.

While Perry’s offense delivered another impressive showing, the defense was equally responsible for the lopsided result. The Pirates completely shut down a Garfield rushing attack that had been one of the most productive in the region, limiting the G-Men to just 74 yards of total offense and four first downs. Garfield entered the matchup averaging more than 400 yards of offense per game, but Perry’s physicality and disciplined defensive approach prevented the G-Men from establishing any consistent rhythm.

Garfield running back Ryder Cain, who had rushed for 248 yards and six touchdowns in the previous week’s regional quarterfinal victory over Conneaut, was held to just 30 yards on 11 carries. The Pirates’ ability to contain one of the area’s most dangerous offensive weapons proved critical, as Garfield struggled to sustain drives or generate scoring opportunities against a Perry defense that recorded its sixth shutout of the season.

The victory was another statement for a Perry program that has been dominant throughout the 2026 campaign. The Pirates have now outscored their two postseason opponents by a combined 82-0 after opening the playoffs with a 37-0 victory over Canton Central Catholic. Perry has also collected impressive regular-season victories over Kirtland, Chardon, and West Geauga, building a résumé that has established the Pirates among the leading contenders for the Division V state championship.

For Garfield, the defeat brings an outstanding season to an end with an 11-1 record. The G-Men captured another league championship and completed an undefeated regular season for the fourth time since 2020, continuing an impressive stretch of success for the program. Despite Friday’s disappointing result, Garfield’s 2026 campaign will be remembered for its powerful rushing attack, conference championship, and another deep postseason run.

Perry now turns its attention to a highly anticipated Division V, Region 17 Championship matchup against the Girard Indians, who advanced with a 39-26 victory over Barnesville in the other regional semifinal. Girard enters the contest with a perfect 12-0 record, setting up another battle of unbeaten teams with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. The regional championship is scheduled for Friday, November 20, at 7 p.m., at a neutral site to be announced by the OHSAA.

With its undefeated record intact, an offense capable of scoring in multiple ways, and a defense that continues to dominate opposing teams, Perry is now just one victory away from reaching the Division V State Semifinals. The Pirates have passed every test thrown their way this season, but another major challenge awaits as they prepare to square off against Girard for the regional crown.

PIRATES MARCHING ON TO THE FINALS

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