GENEVA— Friday night’s clash between Perry and Geneva had everything—big plays, costly mistakes, and a finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. When it was all said and done, Perry escaped with a dramatic 35-28 overtime victory, snapping a two-game losing skid in the process.
The Pirates, stung by back-to-back setbacks against Kirtland and Chardon, entered Geneva hungry for a win. They left at 3-2, halfway through the season, with their confidence restored.
“Every game is important,” said Perry head coach Bob Gecewich. “We have 10 scheduled opportunities, and each opportunity is unique. To maximize this (opportunity) and win this one is huge.”
Perry struck first, with quarterback Nate Treftzger connecting on a 33-yard pass to Jimmy Ashburn that set up a Carter Hopkins one-yard plunge for a 7-0 lead. Geneva countered when Ricky DiPetta broke free for 32 yards, and Bryce Peet finished the drive from the five to tie it.
The first quarter ended in chaos. Geneva fumbled deep in its own territory, and Perry’s Connor D’Astolfo scooped it up and rumbled 10 yards for a touchdown, putting the Pirates ahead, 14-7.
The Eagles rallied behind quarterback Caden Proy, who showcased his legs with a 14-yard keeper to knot the game at 14-14. But Treftzger responded before halftime, ripping off a 29-yard run before hitting Brody Krantz on a 19-yard strike to give Perry a 21-14 lead at the break.
Geneva refused to fold. Proy converted a third-and-long with a 20-yard scramble, and Peet powered in from four yards out to tie things again. Perry fired back with some trickery—Treftzger pitched to Traxton Richards, who uncorked a 34-yard touchdown bomb to Greg Mechenbier for a 28-21 advantage.
Just when it looked like Perry had control, Geneva swung momentum again. Connor Brenneman blocked a punt at the 11-yard line, and Proy punched it in from a yard out. The scoreboard read 28-28 as regulation expired, setting the stage for a winner-take-all overtime.
The Pirates seized the moment. Treftzger hit Justin Costello for 15 yards, then handed it off to Hopkins, who bulldozed his way through the line for the decisive five-yard touchdown. Geneva’s fans fell silent as Perry celebrated the 35-28 overtime thriller.
Two key fumble recoveries were the difference, a relief for a Perry defense that hadn’t forced a turnover since Week 1.
“We haven’t caused a turnover since week one, and those are huge in tight games,” Gecewich said. “In tight games, you need breaks. Those were the breaks that we got and needed.”
Treftzger’s steady hand guided the offense with 243 yards on 17-of-26 passing, plus 50 rushing yards. Mechenbier hauled in five catches for 103 yards and a score, while Hopkins delivered two touchdowns on the ground.
For Geneva, the loss was another gut-punch in a season suddenly defined by costly fumbles.
“This is the first year we’ve ever had a problem with that,” Peet said. “Every day in practice, we have to go 100% like we’re in a game so we can build that connection and hold onto the football.”
Head coach Don Shymske was blunt about the road ahead.
“If we don’t improve, we’re not going to win another game,” he said. “We can’t continually make these same mistakes over and over again and expect to beat any team. It’s crucial, and we have to look in the mirror and figure out what we can do now.”
Perry now turns its attention to hosting Lutheran West, while Geneva looks to regroup on the road at Edgewood. Both teams open Chagrin Valley Conference play on Sept. 29.
