Pirates football holds late-night game

Was it early morning or late at night? However, Perryville football coach Brent Roth wanted to classify it, the scrimmage was way past one reporter’s bedtime.
The Perryville football team held a green/white scrimmage at midnight Saturday morning to kick off being able to practice in full pads. According to state rules, football teams had to build up from practicing in helmets during the first week to finally being able to practice in full pads after five days.
For coach Brent Roth, the game was more about getting out and playing in full pads and less about the score and who won the game.
“I don’t really care about who wins or who loses,” Perryville head coach Brent Roth said. “I’m trying to get something on film and get these guys out here hitting each other and under the lights, and get the fans out. This is kind of a dress rehearsal all around, painting the field and getting the camera working, and just all that extra little stuff that you want to test out.”
For those who are interested in the outcome, the green team was victorious 14-13 in an evenly matched contest and as the teams took a while to get going. In the 45-minute scrimmage, the two teams went about 20 minutes without seeing the endzone.
“You never know how well you’re doing when it comes to offense and defense because you’re playing yourself,” Roth said. “I’m calling the offense and I’m thinking this isn’t going well and Coach (Ryan) Mueller is over there thinking it’s going great.”
The fireworks and big plays started soon after that as Wyatt Schremp made a 20-yard catch along the right sideline to get the green team into the redzone. Kayd Luckey scored on a 20- yard run as he bounced off several tacklers to put the green team ahead 7-0.
Luckey who is slated as the back-up quarterback this season, saw all his time as a skill player on the outside as Rilaynd Graham will be the starting quarterback for the Pirates this season and was the signal caller for both teams during the scrimmage.
“It’s a little backyard football for him to be all-time quarterback,” Roth said. “It just made sense to do it that way because Kayd will be playing in a bunch of different spots during the season and this way he could get used to it. “

Graham saw a variety of situations during the contest and with him under center, most of the Pirates’ offense involves their quarterback throwing out of pocket or running it himself. Graham threw from outside the pocket quite a bit as well.
“He’s an athletic kid,” Roth said, “so getting him out of the pocket, whether he’s throwing it or running, helps him.”
He showed his prowess under center as he hit Ty Peeler for a 66-yard pass for a touchdown for the white team, putting them ahead 13-7. Running Back Drew Lueckel scored a 63-yard touchdown for the white team to get them on the board.
Luckey scored his second touchdown of the night on a screen pass that he took 47 yards for a score to put the green team ahead for good.
“The big plays are nice because they get the fans out of their seats and are exciting,” Roth said. “We are going to need some of those because 8-10 play drives are hard to put together at this level. The more big plays we get, the better.”
The Pirates have played midnight intrasquad games in each of the last two seasons and It has quickly become a hit among the players.
“This might be their favorite game,” Roth said. “Besides playing St. Vincent, I think this might be their favorite game of the year.”
The Pirates will take part in a four-team football jamboree hosted by St. Pius X on Friday, Perryville will play three games with each team having 12 offensive and defensive plays with the host Lancers, Crystal City and Lutheran South.