SPREAD 'EM: PIRATES TO TRY NEW 'O'

Perryville will have a new look this season in more ways than one.

For starters, the Pirates have a new head coach in Lance Bell, who was an assistant at the school the past four seasons.

And Bell has scrapped the wishbone offense the Pirates used the past couple of years, instead going to a more wide-open, spread attack.

"I'm excited about this opportunity," said Bell of his first varsity head coaching position. "This kind of chance usually doesn't come around to a 27-year-old too often."

Even though the Pirates lost a host of key seniors from last year's 4-6 team and return just a handful of starters, Bell is optimistic that Perryville can be one of the area's surprise teams this season, particularly offensively.

"I really do have high hopes. We lost 16,17 seniors and I know people won't think we're going to be any good, but I think we can surprise people. I really think we're going to be a darkhorse," he said. "We don't have a lot of depth, but the players that will be starting are good kids. We're not real big, but we're very strong and we have good team speed.

"I think our offense is really going to mess with some people this year. We're really going to try to spread people out, with a lot of formations, a lot of motion. Our overall speed is the best since I've been here."

Defensively, Bell said the Pirates will be challenged primarily because of their lack of size.

"I don't know if we'll be as good as last year defensively because of our size," he said. "I know teams will try to run it down our throats so we'll probably have to make some adjustments."

Bell will be looking for improved special teams play after the Pirates allowed nine returns for touchdowns in 1999.

"Our special teams will be vastly improved," he promised. "We were terrible in that area last year. We've really made it a point of emphasis."

The Pirates return their quarterback from last season in senior Tyler Abernathy, a 6-foot-1, 182-pounder who will play a much bigger role in the offense this year. Abernathy completed 18 of 46 passes for 278 yards as a junior.

"We only threw about four times a game last year, but we'll throw a lot more this year and I think Tyler will do a good job," Bell said. "He's worked hard over the summer and his arm seems to have improved quite a bit."

Other returning offensive regulars for the Pirates are running back Mike Schmidt (5-8, 162, sr.), tight end Mike Blevins (6-2, 195, sr.) and tackle Mike Verseman (6-2, 205, sr.), who played tight end a year ago.

Schmidt, who Bell said is the Pirates' strongest player, rushed for nearly 200 yards last year as a change-of-pace for the graduated Shawn Statler, a 1,100-yard rusher. Schmidt figures to have his work load increased a lot this season.

Also in the backfield will be Tyler Lorenz (5-10, 170, jr.) while Mark Cissell (5-10, 146, sr.) and Tim Landholt (5-10, 185, sr.) will man the wide receiver positions.

Others up front will be tackle Seth Verseman (6-0, 224, sr.); center Blake Wengert (5-11, 175, jr.); and guards Eric Brueckner (5-11, 175, so.) and Sam Zahner (5-11, 200, so.). Daniel Zahner (6-0, 195, jr.) was slated to start at guard but he is injured and will be out until about mid-season.

"Our line is usually in the 230s and 240s (pounds), but we just don't have those big kids this year," said Bell. "We'll be small, but quick."

Most of the offensive regulars will also start defensively because of the Pirates' lack of depth.

Up front will be ends Blevins and Mike Verseman, along with tackles Sam Zahner and Seth Verseman.

The linebackers will be Schmidt, Landholt, Chris Flentge (5-11, 180, jr.) and either Brueckner or Joel Kurre (5-11, 175, jr.). Daniel Zahner will also play there when he returns to health.

In the secondary are cornerbacks Cissell and Brian Hadler (5-10, 175, jr.), along with free safety Lorenz.

Blevins figures to be a major weapon at punter after earning all-region honors there last year.

Perryville opens the season Friday night at home against Waynesville, the start of what Bell regards as an extremely rugged schedule. Other non-district foes include perennial powers Jackson, North County, Hillsboro and Ste. Genevieve.

"I'd put our schedule up against any team in Southeast Missouri," Bell said.

PERRYVILLE

Mascot: Pirates

Enrollment: 933

Coach: Lance Bell

Conference: Mississippi Area Football Conference

District: Class 4A, District 1

Last year's record: 4-6

Key losses: Shawn Statler, RB/DB; Nick Cowell, OL/DL

Key returners: Tyler Abernathy, QB; Mike Schmidt, RB/LB; Mike Blevins, TE/DL/P