By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS – The difference between ecstasy and heartbreak on a football field is often razor thin. Add to that the fact that a muddy plying surface is the great equalizer, and the Pike versus Perry Meridian game that everybody thought would be a blowout Oct. 9 suddenly became one of the most compelling story lines of the season.
Class 5A No. 12 Pike did prevail in this Conference Indiana battle, 13-10 in double overtime. In the process, however, Perry Meridian may have taken a huge step in returning its football program to respectability.
Honestly, the statistics and details from most of this contest are irrelevant. The simple truth is that for most of a night that saw 17 punts, the Falcons outplayed their ranked opponent.
Perry Meridian allowed the Red Devils only five first downs in regulation. They pounced on four Pike turnovers. Most importantly, they never allowed the big play that Pike (7-1 overall, 6-0 in league play) is so famous for producing.
The Red Devils’ only touchdown came in the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Grant Kitcoff to star receiver Dyjuan Lewis. It was the game’s first score. It was also the only time the potent Pike passing duo would play a significant role.
Perry Meridian (0-8, 0-6) dented the scoreboard with 4:50 left in the second quarter. After the Falcons recovered a Pike fumble inside the Red Devils’ 10, Sam Haughton bulled his way in from three yards out to tie the game 7-7 after the extra point.
That was not only the last score in regulation, it was the last time either team came close to scoring. The Pike defense and a subsequently shaky Perry Meridian kicking game continuously gave the Red Devils decent starting field position, but the Falcon defense refused to budge.
That defensive effort was aided by the sloppy conditions, which rendered Pike’s vaunted team speed nearly useless.
The drama in this contest came in overtime. Pike began the first overtime with the ball and moved only five yards in three plays. That led to a field goal attempt that was wide left and sent the Perry Meridian faithful into a state of frenzy anticipating the Falcons’ first victory in the school’s last 22 games.
That victory seemed even more likely after Pike was called offside on the first down of Perry Meridian’s possession. That moved the ball to the 5, and one running play advanced it two yards closer to the aforementioned ecstasy.
It was at that point that Perry Meridian coach Scott Marsh made a decision that will unfairly haunt him for some time to come. He chose to kick a potential winning field goal on second down.
The decision was entirely reasonable. The attempt was no longer than an extra point. The conditions were an absolute mud bowl. Every play from scrimmage was a potential turnover.
No matter how reasonable, however, the strategy did not work. The field goal attempt was blocked, and the game moved into a second overtime.
This time Perry Meridian had the first crack at paydirt but was stopped at the 2, resulting in a 19-yard field goal from Matt Bennett o take the lead at 10-7. It was do-or-die time for Pike, and they showed that Devils do not die easily.
First down yielded four yards to the 6. Second down advanced the ball to the 4, and third down found Steffon Martin rushing into the end zone for a 13-10 victory.
Pike, now 28-5 in coach Derek Moyers’ third season at the far-northwestside school, clinched its second conference crown in the last three seasons. The Red Devils will finish the regular season Oct. 16 at home against Franklin Central (4-4, 3-3), a 14-0 Week 8 winner against Lawrence Central.
Perry Meridian will attempt to avoid its second consecutive winless regular season next Friday at Bloomington South (3-5, 2-4), a 44-14 Week 8 loser at Columbus North.
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