After a back and forth game, the Perry Panthers defeated the Starr’s Mill Panthers 28-24, earning a trip to the AAAA state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I think the biggest takeaway is when things look bleak, you don’t ever quit, you keep driving, you keep doing your best, and you keep living up to your standard. If you’re patient and consistent with effort and you’re consistent with your commitment, eventually things will start to go your way,” head coach Chad Phillips said. “We just seemed to get better and better throughout the season, and here we are playing week 14.”
Although Starr’s Mill did not advance to the state championship, the season included many milestones. Panther football played its 300th game and earned its 200th win. Senior Taylor Ratinaud set a record for the longest interception return in school history (80 yards), and junior Logan Inagawa set a new mark for the single season individual pass completion rate.
“I think we went on a great run,” senior kicker Hunter Meeks said. “No one even expected us to win our region, especially off of last year where we didn’t even make the playoffs, and now we are in the final four and almost made it to state. I think that’s huge.”
For the Starr’s Mill Panthers, senior Dorsey Benefield rushed 12 times for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior Logan Inagawa completed 16 of 26 passes for 211 yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore Skip Smith had 3 receptions for 73 yards and junior Lincoln DeLaere had 4 receptions for 39 yards.
No one even expected us to win our region, especially off of last year where we didn’t even make the playoffs, and now we are in the final four and almost made it to state.”
— senior Hunter Meeks
For the Perry Panthers, Ahmad Gordon rushed 24 times for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. Colter Ginn 20 of 31 pass attempts for 366 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dakarai Anderson caught 8 passes for 166 yards and 1 touchdown. Kory Pettigrew had 5 receptions for 144 and 1 touchdown.
Courtesy of a 1-yard touchdown run by Benefield after a 65-yard pass completion from Inagawa to Benefield, Starr’s Mill got on the board first. Meeks added a 21-yard field goal and Starr’s Mill led 10-0 after the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Perry responded with a touchdown on a 1-yard run. Perry looked to take the lead going into halftime, but the Starr’s Mill defense held its ground at the 1-yard line. Starr’s Mill led 10-7 at the break.
“I thought we played well enough to win, but we just never could get that big stop in the second half,” Phillips said.
Both teams came out of the locker room scoring to begin the third quarter. The game turned into a back-and-forth scoring battle with Perry striking first going 80 yards in for plays in 60 seconds. Perry took its first lead of the game 14-10.
Starr’s Mill responded with two touchdowns, one by senior Anderson Cardoza on a 13-yard run and another by Benefield on a 4-yard run.
I thought we played well enough to win, but we just never could get that big stop in the second half.”
— head coach Chad Phillips
Perry scored on a 9-yard pass and narrowed the Starr’s Mill lead to 24-21 before the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Perry started off the quarter with a touchdown on a 61-yard pass. Starr’s Mill tried to retaliate but due to a few missed plays, they came up short. Starr’s Mill ultimately lost the game 28-24.
“This is my first year playing but I mean I love these guys seriously,” Meeks said. “Just practicing with them everyday, playing games with them, going through like a roller coaster of every emotion with them, it’s been great. These guys are my family.”
Starr’s Mill ends the season with an overall record of 10-4 and a region record of 6-1. The Panthers won the region for the 10th time in school history and hosted the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
Perry will be advancing to play Stockbridge in the state championship. Stockbridge defeated Benedictine 45-31 in the state semifinals.
The Perry Panthers will face the Stockbridge Tigers in the AAAA state championship game on December 12 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.