Perryville seizes district title opportunity

The Perryville football program had not won a district playoff game since 1999 entering this season.

After moving down to Class 3 District 1 over the summer, Perryville on Friday earned its first state playoff appearance since 1998. The Pirates wrapped up a 3-0 district record with an improbable 47-41 triple-overtime victory against Dexter in the district championship game.

Perryville will play at Ste. Genevieve on Wednesday in the sectional round.

"I think our kids will represent our district really well," Perryville coach Rick Chastain said.

After one half of play Friday at Perryville, it looked like Dexter would again move on to the sectional round. Dexter scored on three of its five possessions in the first half, turning the ball over the other two. With three touchdowns and a safety, the Bearcats led 22-7 at halftime.

"In the locker room, we got to talking about all the things we'd done to get to this point," Chastain said.

The start of the second half did not look to bring much hope for the Pirates, as Jake Smith took the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 lead.

Perryville answered the challenge after that kickoff return.

Kirk Luckey scored on a 33-yard strike from Cory Buerck to cut the lead to 28-13. Dexter fumbled on its next possession, and Perryville converted the turnover into a 1-yard touchdown run by Buerck. A two-point conversion cut the lead to 28-21 with 4:02 remaining in the third quarter.

"Our kids realized they could play with teams like them," Chastain said. "The longer we stayed in the ballgame the more confident we got."

The defense kept the Pirates in the game in the fourth quarter. Dexter's line could not handle Perryville's pass rush and surrendered several sacks. After the Pirates' offense could not convert on good field position with 3:50 remaining in the game, Perryville's defense made one last stand to get the ball back for the offense with 1:32 remaining.

"I can't say enough about the defense and our defensive coaches," Chastain said.

Perryville has the ball back but was on its own 9-yard line. On first down, Buerck was sacked at the 1. A completion to Greg Wibbenmeyer on second down put the ball at the 13. With about 30 seconds remaining Buerck hit Clinton Rice, and Rice outran the Dexter defense for an 87-yard score to cut the lead to 28-27. Wibbenmeyer converted the extra point to send the game into overtime.

"It was a great throw by Cory," Chastain said.

While both teams made big plays in overtime, Perryville seemed to have more bounce in its step. Once the Pirates defense came up with an interception by Matt Unterreiner to start the third overtime, the offense finished off Dexter with a touchdown pass from Buerck to Luckey.

"We talked all year about when you get the opportunity you have to seize that moment, and we did that last night," Chastain said.

Buerck finished 13-for-18 for 275 yards passing and accounted for six touchdowns -- five passing, one running.

"When he stays focused and sharp he's very accurate," Chastain said. "Last night he was on."

Unterreiner added 91 yards on the ground for Perryville.