'Next Pirate up' is Perryville mantra on pitch this fall

SIKESTON – The Perryville High School boy’s soccer program hasn’t endured a non-winning season since finishing 9-9 in 2009, and that streak just may continue for another autumn, however, it won’t be done easily.

The Pirates have been ravaged by injuries and bad luck this fall, but still have managed to fight their way to an 8-6 mark following a 5-2 win at Sikeston on Tuesday.

“It’s been tough,” veteran Pirate coach Jerry Fulton said of battling through the adversity. “It really has been, but we just keep saying ‘Next man up.’”

That has been the mantra of late, as Perryville lost five starters to injury last week.

In addition to those ailments, starting goalkeeper Waylon Huber suffered a high ankle sprain in the season-opening game at Notre Dame (a 2-1 loss), before his backup, senior Ashton Anshultz suffered a broken foot recently in weightlifting class.

“The next guy has to step into that place,” Fulton continued. “If (the coaches) are doing their jobs correctly, then that guy will be prepared and ready to step in.”

The victory over the Bulldogs was “a little rusty,” according to Fulton, who hadn’t played this lineup as a unit in a few weeks due to missing so many bodies. However, with a pair of goals from senior Aden Garris and sophomore Treyton Barnett, Perryville (8-6) managed to score three times in the second half to pull away from the Bulldogs.

“We knew Sikeston was fast up top,” Fulton said, “and we weren’t going to keep them off of the board. We just hoped to outscore them and luckily, we did.”

Fulton has relied heavily on guys “stepping up” and into bigger roles, none more so than the lanky 6-foot-2 Garris.

Fulton said Garris “was a bit of a jokester” as a junior, but transformed himself on and off of the pitch during the off-season and has shocked everyone, including Fulton, with his ability and production.

“Would you believe he played (junior varsity) last year,” Fulton asked. “What a transition he has made.”

Garris is the leading scorer on the Pirates, who have upped their scoring average by nearly one goal per game this season while limiting opponents to less than two goals per game.

“Aden was never serious,” Fulton said of the 2022 season. “He didn’t take anything seriously. I don’t know what changed, but this summer, he went and is on a mission.

“What a special thing he has done and brought to the team this year. The transformation has just been amazing.”

The Pirates have at least eight matches remaining, with only three of the upcoming foes having winning records as of today, which is very unlike the schedule, thus far.

Perryville has already faced seven winning teams in 14 matches, including four opponents who are state-ranked.

“We’ve got eight more games to tweak this thing,” Fulton said. “The schedule is what it is, but that is what usually makes you better.”

Perryville will travel to Saxony Lutheran (7-6) today at 4 p.m.