Lake County Sentinel
Perry Wins Brown Jug for Tenth year in a Row, Beats Madison 38-17
BY JOEY SCHNEIDER
STAFF
(PERRY, OH) - The 2025 high school football season has finally started for Lake County with games all around the area. In Perry at Alumni Stadium, the Pirates hosted their cross-town rival, the Madison Blue Streaks. Both teams have something to prove this season as each program lost many seniors last year. Both programs also have great head coaches with Perry's Bob Gecewich winning the Division V state championship just 2 years ago, and Madison's Mike Gilligan who is able to get the most out his players and has turned Madison into a perennial powerhouse.
The fight for the Brown Jug trophy has been a tradition between the two schools for many years. Madison holds the all-time lead 36-28, but Perry has beaten Madison the last nine years in a row. Both teams looked determined to take that trophy and their first win of the season tonight. Perry is led by a duo of quarterbacks in junior Nate Trefzger and senior McKoy Richards who rotate taking snaps every other drive. Alongside their quarterbacks is senior tight end and defensive end Trent Taylor who is a three-star recruit and has committed to Bowling Green next season. Madison is headed up by senior QB Will Randall jr and senior running back and defensive back James Poe.
Madison won the toss and deferred to the second half. The first drive of the game saw the Perry Pirates go right down the field and score on a 43-yard touchdown pass from McKoy Richards to junior wide-out Chase Sivon for the first score of the game and giving Perry the lead 7-0.
After some great back and forth defense from both teams, the Blue Streaks James Poe intercepted the ball, giving Madison good field position. Perry, not to be outdone put the pressure on Madison and forced a three and out. Perry went on a 75-yard drive being capped off by a six-yard touchdown run by Perry's McKoy Richards with 30 seconds left in the first quarter, extending the Pirates lead to 14-0.
Madison started the second quarter going on a wild eleven play drive that was finished off with a fourth and long 24-yard touchdown connection from Will Randall jr to senior wide receiver Payton Birman who made a spectacular catch.
The pirates wasted no time getting those points back however, as in less than two minutes, Perry drove down the field and scored on a perfect 36-yard throw and catch from Nate Trefzger to junior receiver Greg Mechenbier, who had a big game.
Madison was driving down the field and was looking poised to score until an errant throw was intercepted by Perry's big senior defensive tackle Sean Budziak with only 1:05 left in the quarter. Perry almost scored again on a throw to Greg Mechenbier, but came out just short on the one-yard line with no time left going into half and Perry in the lead 21-7
Perry turned it up even more in the second half as Trefzger again found Greg Mechenbier deep on a 46-yard touchdown pass halfway through the third quarter again inflating Perry's lead to 28-7.
The Pirates defensive line was breaking through the Blue Streaks and started putting an immense amount of pressure on Madison. Trent Taylor recorded four sacks in three drives and Madison fumbled deep in their own territory. After a facemask penalty, Perry's senior running back Brody Petruccelli rumbled into the end zone on a 2-yard score early in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach, 35-7.
Perry then recovered an onside pouch kick, which is how they kicked off every time. After their drive stalled sophomore kicker Colton Crissinger was perfect on a 25-yard field goal with 7:30 left in the game and started the running clock as Perry had the lead 38-7.
Madison refused to quit and showed plenty of heart in the game, especially on their last drive, which was an eight-play, seven-minute football clinic seeing Payton Birman score on a nine-yard touchdown run.
The Pirates ran out the clock, claiming their first win of the season and their tenth straight win over the Madison Blue Streaks.
Trent Taylor spoke after the game about being able to do his job on the defensive line. "It's just the trust of what's behind us. We can get after them up front knowing that the DB's (defensive backs) and safety's have it on lockdown."
The Perry Pirates are home again next week and look to make it two in a row as they host the Kenston Bombers. The Madison Blue Streaks will look for their first win as they play their home opener against the Willoughby South Rebels. Both games are on Friday, August 29th and have a 7:00 pm start time.
Players of the game:
Perry- Greg Machenbier- 4 receptions, 127 yards, 2 touchdowns
Trent Taylor- 4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss
Madison- James Poe- 79 yards rushing, 1 interception.
POSTED 08/23/2025 01:19
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Photo by Joey Schneider
