Perryville loses 21-0 against Fredericktown in homecoming game

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- If effort equaled tackles and progress equaled points, the Perryville Pirates football team might be looking at a 6-0 record instead of 0-6.

But despite bright spots, the Pirates made enough mistakes to drop a 21-0 decision to Fredericktown in a Saturday afternoon homecoming battle. The loss assured Perryville of a losing season, its ninth this decade.

Pirates coach Keith Winkler led Perryville's other high school football team -- St. Vincent -- to a state championship during his nine-year stretch there before taking over as coach at the public school this season. He knows what it takes to be successful and likes a lot of what he sees in this year's team, despite the winless record.

"We did some really nice things out there this afternoon," Winkler said, "but we did some things not so good."

Among the not so good were two fumbles lost by junior quarterback Garrett Flentge. The first came as it appeared the Pirates were about to seize momentum in the second quarter.

Starting at its own 13-yard line after a Fredericktown punt, Perryville was moving the ball well. Flentge picked up a first down on a 15-yard keeper to take the ball to the Fredericktown 38, but coughed it up on the next play.

Blackcats quarterback A.P. Lewandowski connected with senior Ryan Gifford for a touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 5 to cap a 65-yard drive just before the half that broke the scoreless tie.

Perryville gave up two big runs to Blackcats junior tailback Jacob Farmer in the second half, the first setting up a 16-yard touchdown pass from Lewandowski to Gifford on a slant route in the third quarter.

Farmer ran off tackle then broke to the outside for a 75-yard TD in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

Gifford not only scored two of the three Fredericktown touchdowns, but he also saved a Perryville score in the third quarter.

The speedy linebacker hauled down Jeff Baughman at the Blackcats 39 after the Pirates running back broke loose. That promising Perryville drive stalled 15 yards from the end zone as the visitors came up with a fourth-and-3 stop. That proved to be the closest the Pirates came to scoring.

Fredericktown, 3-3 and 1-1 in the Mississippi Area Football Conference White Division, won for the second straight week with Lewandowski back in the lineup after an injury.

Apart from the two big runs by Farmer, Perryville did a credible job of stopping Fredericktown's power-I running attack. That was a bright spot for Winkler, who praised his team's effort and perseverance despite the adversity.

"The big thing we need to have is consistency," Winkler said. "And we've got to continue to fight."

Fredericktown 0 6 8 7 -- 21

Perryville 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Second Quarter

F -- Ryan Gifford 5 pass from A.P. Lewandowski (kick failed)

Third Quarter

F -- Gifford 16 pass from Lewandowski (Codee Stamp pass from Lewandowski)

Fourth Quarter

F -- Jacob Farmer 75 run (Gifford kick)

F P

First downs 11 8

Rushes-yards 37-244 30-136

Passing yards 74 75

Passes 7-11-0 7-15-0

Punts 4-35.7 3-33.7

Fumbles-lost 2-0 4-2

Penalties-yards 6-40 6-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Fredericktown, Farmer 22-199, Coley Gray 5-17. Perryville, Jeff Baughman 11-68, Garrett Flentge 15-44.

PASSING -- Fredericktown, Lewandowski 7-11-0 74. Perryville, Flentge 7-15-0 75.

RECEIVING -- Fredericktown, Gifford 3-30, Jon O'Neal 2-28. Perryville, Andrew Martin 4-43, Jason Thieret 1-16.