Pirates rule Pacific

PERRYVILLE -- It took them a little while to get going, but Perryville's Kris Cottner and Josh Perreault put on a two-man offensive show Friday night in their team's season opener.

Cottner and Perreault combined to rush for 220 yards, leading the Pirates to a 41-26 home victory against Pacific.

The win didn't come easily for the Pirates against the Indians, who were winless last year. Pacific built an early 13-0 lead.

"I was just in shock," Cottner said. "I couldn't believe it was happening. I knew we were a better ball team than that."

Cottner, who last season rushed for 1,225 yards, had zero yards on eight carries in the first half. Perreault, a junior varsity running back last year converted to quarterback this year, had 25 yards rushing on six carries.

Perryville defenders tried to pressure Pacific quarterback Paul Gray.

Meanwhile, Pacific running back Michael Wedlow had 62 yards on one run that set up Pacific's second touchdown and its 13-0 lead.

The Pirates cashed in with seven points before halftime. Perreault completed passes of 11 and 49 yards to Ryan Lorenz, last year's quarterback, before running in from 13 yards out to make the score 13-7.

"I got a lot of confidence after that touchdown," Cottner said. "I realized their team could be scored on. ... I just went into the locker room at halftime and got my mind right. I just told myself I was going to bring it to the 'D' and even if I got a 1-yard gain or a 2-yard gain, I wasn't going to let it get me down because stuff like that wears them down in the fourth quarter."

Perryville opened the second half with a 26-yard, seven-play drive, including a 13-yard run by Cottner and two completions for Perreault. The drive was capped by a 29-yard run by Cottner that gave his team its first lead, 14-13, with 9:13 to play in the third.

Perryville's Craig Brueckner picked off a pass from Pacific quarterback Ben Dorenkamp at the Pacific 45 and ran it back 25 yards. After a penalty set Perryville up on the Pacific 30, Perreault scrambled up the middle for a touchdown.

"I always think somebody is going to hit me backside," Perreault said, "but I've got [Cottner], who's always right with me. He always helps me out with the first block."

Perreault added a touchdown run, Brent Roth caught a pass from Perreault and Cottner had the final touchdown.

Perreault had 116 yards rushing and 140 yards passing, with Lorenz having 81 yards in receptions and Brueckner having 40.

"The second half Josh performed like I thought he was going to perform," Perryville coach Rick Chastain said. "The first half was the first time he'd ever been a varsity quarterback and he had quite a few jitters. And he was not reading defense like he should have but I think he came out the second half pretty well."

Cottner rushed for 104 yards.

"The game speaks highly of his character," Chastain said. "He is not a quitter. Those yards he got in the second half were tough yards."