Perry. Madison. Separately, the words represent two quality high school football programs.
Together, though, they form one of the most passionate gridiron rivalries in the region.
The 71st renewal of that rivalry will take place Friday night when the Pirates (1-1) trek to Blue Streak Memorial Stadium to face the Blue Streaks (1-1).
Madison, which won last fall at Alumni Stadium, 34-6, holds a 41-27 lead in the series, with two ties.
Both teams are coming off impressive victories, Perry whipping visiting Lakeside, 36-14, and Madison invading and conquering Brush, 28-14.
“I was pleased with how we played... we only turned the ball over one time and for us, that was a major improvement,” Pirates coach Matt Rosati said. “Defensively, we played well and on offense, we were efficient enough to win.”
“We were down, 14-0, in the first quarter,” Blue Streaks coach Tim Willis said. “Then we scored three times in the second quarter, one on offense, one on defense and the third on a punt block.”
Perry actually trailed Division II Lakeside after one quarter, 8-7. However, the Pirates ran off 29-consecutive points on a 15-yard pass from Cale Burdyshaw to Zakary Hurd, a 1-yard run by Burdyshaw, a 4-yard dash by Kyle Kremiller and a 39-yard pick-6 by Brock Hurd to do in the Dragons.
“It was more the kids getting used to what it is like on a Friday night and understanding how high school games are won,” Rosati said. “The team that makes fewer mistakes usually wins and they got to see that on the good side.”
Madison actually faced a larger deficit at Brush, trailing by 14 points after one quarter.
Then, as Willis explained, the Blue Streaks — playing without running back Mark Murray (mono) — seized control with a dominant 21-point second quarter.
Quarterback Nick Knight scored from 9 yards out, Dalton Boyer recovered the blocked Brush punt in the end zone and Brandon Davis sped 40 yards for a touchdown to put Madison in control. Davis’ 36-yard fourth-quarter scamper sealed the deal.
With Murray sidelined, Davis stepped up in a large way, carrying the football only 11 times, but piling up 102 yards, averaging a spectacular 9.3 yards per carry.
“We worked very hard improving our mistakes from the first week,” Willis said of Madison’s 26-23 defeat at the hands of visiting Lakeview in its opener.
The enormity of the rivalry, with the winner maintaining possession of the Little Brown Jug, is not lost on either coach.
“The history of the game is great and unique to all involved,” Rosati said. “The neat thing about it is how many second and third and, in some cases, fourth generations we have competing in it.
“These kids have competed against each other in all sports for a long time and know each other well.”
“It gets everyone in both communities pumped,” Willis said. “This is a great high school rivalry with a lot of history.
“The players want to keep the jug in our trophy case.”
Rosati has great respect for the Madison program.
“Madison, like us, is a young team,” he said. “They have a lot of players who will experience this for the first time. But when it comes down to it, it is still a well-coached, hard-nosed team that expects to win.”
And he knows the details, too.
“Defensively they are very fast and fly to the ball,” he said. “They have really good linebackers and I think (Bo) Ransom is really impressive.
“On offense. Mark Murray is a load. He’s very hard to bring down and Nick Knight has proven he is extremely tough and moves very well.
“To have any chance, we will have to tackle well.”
Willis, never a man of many words, has equal respect for the Perry program.
“Perry is very well-balanced,” he said. “(Burdyshaw) is a very good quarterback who can run and pass.
“We must be mistake-free in all phases of the game.”
Rosati cautions that while emotions always run high for any football game, especially so when the contest is as heated and tradition-rich as Perry-Madison, keeping them under control could be crucial to determining the winner Friday night.
“We can’t let emotions get in the way of business, and to allow emotions to push them through hard times,” he said. “Also, to enjoy the moment and understand what we are playing for.
“If we do that, then we will represent our school and community very well.”
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