Shoring up Perry Meridian’s defense are defensive back Glen Baker, linemen Zach Payton (38 tackles) and 2014 All-State honoree Kyle Ball, linebacker Brett Johnson (94 tackles) and lineman Dylan Roth (41 tackles, three sacks).
By Al Stilley
PERRY MERIDIAN (2-8) – Depth is the big question mark … Falcons graduated more than 30 seniors … could open with 15 players going both ways … younger ones must develop quickly … some size in 2014 junior all-star Kyle Ball, now a 310-pound senior; Dylan Roth, a 255-pound senior, 41 tackles last year; 235-pound Zach Payton (38 tackles) and 240-pound Dean Fraker … leading tackler, linebacker Brett Johnson, 94 tackles, returns … linebackers Alec Patch and Russ Miller, 36 tackles each, add experience … Falcons rely on D-backs Chris Buchanan, a third-year starter; Glen Baker and newcomer John Lee … senior Matt McCloskey takes over at quarterback after the departure of Tristen Tonte (Warren Central) … running backs include Buchanan, sophomores Andre Wright and Jalen Lee, and Brevin Lee, 29 receptions, three TDs … senior Keagan Streeter is a prime wide receiver … open Friday in Perry Stadium against Greenwood at 7 p.m.
Coach Scott Marsh’s comments: “We’re going to have more kids playing both ways than we have in past years. We have to keep players healthy and somehow stay away from attrition. We will try to pound the football and have a capable passing game. Our secondary was our Achilles’ heel because we didn’t have any perimeter speed. We think we have fixed that. We struggled at times last year; we were physical at the line of scrimmage but we struggled on the perimeter. We kept getting younger during the season but we improved near the end.”
PERRY MERIDIAN (2-8) – Depth is the big question mark … Falcons graduated more than 30 seniors … could open with 15 players going both ways … younger ones must develop quickly … some size in 2014 junior all-star Kyle Ball, now a 310-pound senior; Dylan Roth, a 255-pound senior, 41 tackles last year; 235-pound Zach Payton (38 tackles) and 240-pound Dean Fraker … leading tackler, linebacker Brett Johnson, 94 tackles, returns … linebackers Alec Patch and Russ Miller, 36 tackles each, add experience … Falcons rely on D-backs Chris Buchanan, a third-year starter; Glen Baker and newcomer John Lee … senior Matt McCloskey takes over at quarterback after the departure of Tristen Tonte (Warren Central) … running backs include Buchanan, sophomores Andre Wright and Jalen Lee, and Brevin Lee, 29 receptions, three TDs … senior Keagan Streeter is a prime wide receiver … open Friday in Perry Stadium against Greenwood at 7 p.m.
Coach Scott Marsh’s comments: “We’re going to have more kids playing both ways than we have in past years. We have to keep players healthy and somehow stay away from attrition. We will try to pound the football and have a capable passing game. Our secondary was our Achilles’ heel because we didn’t have any perimeter speed. We think we have fixed that. We struggled at times last year; we were physical at the line of scrimmage but we struggled on the perimeter. We kept getting younger during the season but we improved near the end.”
Perry Meridian’s seniors include (from left) defensive back Christian Buchanan, who had three interceptions last year, quarterback Matt McCloskey and wide receivers Kaegan Streeter and Brevin Lee, who had 29 receptions, three for touchdowns.
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