Lake County Sentinel
Perry exterminates Hornets 31-10
BY KEN KRIZNER
STAFF
(PERRY, OH) - In a game that featured two explosive offenses averaging more than 40 points a game, it was the Perry defense that turned the tide. On a hot-and-humid night before a near-capacity crowd at Perry Alumni Stadium, the Pirates defense forced two third quarter turnovers that the offense turned into 14 points, giving Perry a 31-10 victory over defending state champion Kirtland.
In a battle of the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the Sentinel Seven, Perry (3-0) handed the Hornets (2-1) their first road loss in the regular season dating back to 2015.
The game was played in a playoff atmosphere between two of the most successful football programs in Lake County – teams that have dreams of playing into December. Recent meetings included a Perry victory and a Kirtland team that has won four of the past five contests, including a triple-overtime thriller in 2024 and a 44-24 victory last season.
And while both offenses have plenty of playmakers, it was defense the carried the day for the Pirates.
“Our defense played hard and stepped up,” said Perry Head Coach Bob Gecewich. “There are some games where you can throw away series and it’s no big deal. When we play Kirtland, it seems to always come down to who turns the ball over more. We did a great job tonight.”
Four plays following the second half kickoff, Kirtland’s senior running back Zander Perko ran into the teeth of the Perry defense and was stripped of the ball, which was recovered by Pirates’ senior linebacker Carter Hopkins at the 50 yard line.
On the ensuing drive, senior quarterback Nate Trefzger completed two passes. The first was a swing pass for 21 yards to junior Carter Crofoot who went through several Hornets tacklers before being taken down. Trefzger’s second completion was a 32-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Greg Mechenbier.
When the Hornets got the ball back, they survived one apparent interception when Perry was called for a defensive holding. They also converted on a 4th and 6 play near midfield. But Kirtland’s luck ran out when sophomore quarterback Ben Loncar, under heavy pressure, had his throwing motion impacted by Perry’s Brody Krantz and threw an interception to Crofoot, who went untouched 68 yards for a Pirates touchdown.
“Brody did a great job getting to the quarterback,” Crofoot said. “I knew I was gone the moment the ball got into my hands.”
The turn of events put Perry squarely in control of the game.
“Our defensive line did a great job,” Crofoot said. “In the second half, they really started to overpower Kirtland’s offensive line.”
The first half was one of methodical football on both sides. There were no punts during the first 24 minutes and only six total possessions between the two teams.
Perry took the opening kickoff and drove down the field on a 12-play drive taking nearly five minutes off the clock, mixing in runs and passes. Along the way, the Pirates converted two third-down plays and a fourth-down play. On the second third-down conversion, Trefzger found sophomore Gavin Brooks open in a seam for a 31-yard pass to the Hornets 10 yard line. Trefzger hit paydirt on the next play, keeping the ball himself and scurrying 10 yards for a touchdown.
Kirtland tried to answer with its own time-consuming drive, with Loncar passing and running the Hornets deep into Perry territory. But after converting on a fourth-down play, the drive stalled and kicker Marko Valentic missed a 42-yard field goal.
The first break of the game came soon after. Kirtland senior Tommy Caimi intercepted a Trefzger pass at the Perry 32 and returned it to the 15 yard line. It was a critical play, because Perry was in position to drive the field and potentially take a double-digit lead.
After Perko put the ball inside the 1 yard line, Loncar took it in for the touchdown and a 7-7 tie on the first play of the second quarter.
Again, both teams traded long drives. First, it was Perry going 80 yards in 10 plays on a drive that took up nearly six minutes, assisted by a face mask penalty on Kirtland. When the drive stalled on the Kirtland 24 yard line, junior Colton Crissinger nailed a 41-yard field goal.
Kirtland answered immediately. Getting the ball at their own 21 yard line with less than 4 minutes left in the half, Loncar and running backs Perko, Caimi and Matt Rus drove the Hornets to the Perry 24. On the last play of the first half, Valentic hit a 41-yard field goal to tie the score at 10.
But on this night, it was as close as Kirtland was going to get.
Following the Pirates second touchdown of the third quarter, Kirtland went three-and-out, leading to the first punt of the game at the 3:50 mark of the third quarter by sophomore Nolan Andrejack.
As the game turned from the third quarter to the fourth, Perry began controlling the line of scrimmage, with Trefzger passing and running, along with the running of junior Traxton Richards and Hopkins. It was Hopkins who made it pay off with a 31-yard touchdown run and a 21-point Perry lead.
Perry’s defense put the capper on its second half domination, stopping the Hornets on a fourth down play late in the fourth quarter to preserve the second half shutout.
“I was actually more proud of the last drive where we got the fourth-down stop inside the 5 yard line,” Gecewich said. “That is something we haven’t been able to do against Kirtland.”
Gecewich becomes one of the few coaches to defeat Kirtland Head Coach Tiger LaVerde multiple times during the regular season. However, he is quick to give credit where credit is due.
“Our players beat Kirtland,” Gecewich said. “We win because we have really good players.”
And after two consecutive losses to the Hornets, Perry players were ready to celebrate.
Crofoot described the victor and the first box to check for the Pirates this season. The next box is a state championship.
Trefzger said beating Kirtland helps in the short term. “We know we can win these hard-fought games,” he noted. “This can only help us as our season continues.”
Long term, Trefzger knows what this victory will mean to him and his teammates.
“This win means a lot,” he said. “We’re going to look back on this game for many years.”
Both teams begin Chagrin Valley Conference division play on the road the next week. Perry travels to Jefferson for a Chagrin Division matchup, while Kirtland visits Rootstown for a Valley Division game.
POSTED 09/05/2026 01:05
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Perry quarterback Nate Trefzger is chased by Kirtland's Jackson Zahn during the Pirates 31-10 victory. Photo by Ken Krizner
