Perryville turns back the clock before scrimmage

~ Perryville alumni returned to the field before Pirates' Green vs. White scrimmage.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville football program paid homage to its past while showing off its current squad as the inaugural Alumni Recognition Game preceded the annual Green vs. White scrimmage Friday at Perryville High School.

More than 20 past players, some from as far back as the graduating class of 1958, were on hand to participate in the 7-on-7 touch game. Current players should not have had too many problems recognizing many of the players, with close to half coming from the district championship team of 2004.

"This is one of the only times we can get back on the field," said Matt Schamburg, a 2005 graduate and member of the 2004 squad.

There also were several players on hand from Perryville's district-winning teams from 1988, 1990 and 1998. Among the alumni participating were several members of the current football staff.

Pirates coach Rick Chastain said the event was intended to send a positive message to his current players.

"I want them to see the faces of what success is," Chastain said. "I want them to see how these players care about this school so much to come back."

Fans of the old-timers and not so old-timers got to see a competitive 30-minute contest. Both teams scored twice in regulation, and twice in overtime before the game was called with the teams tied.

"It's good to spark the memories," said Jim Bauwens, a 1981 graduate and current Perryville assistant. "You get a lot of memories playing football. You go through a lot together."

The Alumni Recognition Game will become a yearly event for the football team, and the first version drew a fair crowd. The stands were more than two-thirds full with a mix of young and old fans.

"I was overwhelmed by the crowd we had for the alumni game and Green and White scrimmage," Chastain said. "I'm proud of the community for supporting this type of thing."

The Pirates suffered through a winless campaign last season, losing two of their final four games by a single point.

"I lift weights over here every once in a while, and I just told them to keep their heads up," Schamburg said.

Following the alumni game, the current Pirates scrimmaged for about an hour, pairing their first- and second-team offenses and defenses against each other. Perryville's coaches and players will get a little more serious when they host a jamboree next Friday, but there were some insights gained from the scrimmage.

"When you get them in front of a crowd," Chastain said, "that kind of can separate the men from the boys, who you can count on."

The Pirates will hit the field for real Sept. 1 when they travel to Pacific, which is in the midst of a 39-game losing streak.

Perryville would like to end its own 11-game skid.

"I believe they're ready for good things to happen," Chastain said of his players. "They're excited for things to turn around."