BLOOMINGTON -
The die hard Falcon fans that braved the chilly and rainy weather received a gift for their devotion.
For first year Perry Meridian head coach Scott Marsh and his team, it was a reward for commitment.
After a few close calls and eight consecutive losses to open the season, the Falcons finally broke threw against Bloomington South on Friday night, jumping out to the lead and making sure they finished the job this time, beating the Panther 17-14 on a drizzly night in Bloomington.
Read: Falcons Rebuild, Starting With Defense
The victory also snaps the Falcons 22-game overall losing streak which dated back to the 2007 season. On September 21st of that year was when they last ended up on the right side of the scoreboard, funny enough, also in Bloomington. But after that 28-21 win against North, the Falcons lost their final four to end the season, then lost all 10 games in 2008, which led the the change of Marsh at the helm.
His first eight losses were of the blowout kind at times this season, but hope arose when Perry Meridian took then 6-1 Pike to the brink, losing to the Red Devils in double overtime.
The momentum seemed to carry over to this week as the Falcons started off fast on the road. Dearold Brooks was the star early on, first catching a screen pass and taking it 30 yards deep into Panther territory, then plunging it in from two yards out to give Perry Meridian the early 7-0 lead.
Read: Perry Close, But Not Good Enough To Get Past Southport
Bloomington South looked as if they would answer back quickly as the marched down field on the Falcon defense, but the drive was stopped when Rodney Ewing jumped in front of a Joey Forney pass in the endzone. The interception would stall the drive and the Bloomington South offense for the rest of the quarter, and the Falcons would avoid a repeat of last week and hold on for the three-point victory.
Marsh's team will hit the road for their first playoff game at Richmond next Friday night, while the Panthers-who fell to 3-6 for the regular season-will start the Class 5A playoffs with last season's defending champion Center Grove in Greenwood
For first year Perry Meridian head coach Scott Marsh and his team, it was a reward for commitment.
After a few close calls and eight consecutive losses to open the season, the Falcons finally broke threw against Bloomington South on Friday night, jumping out to the lead and making sure they finished the job this time, beating the Panther 17-14 on a drizzly night in Bloomington.
Read: Falcons Rebuild, Starting With Defense
The victory also snaps the Falcons 22-game overall losing streak which dated back to the 2007 season. On September 21st of that year was when they last ended up on the right side of the scoreboard, funny enough, also in Bloomington. But after that 28-21 win against North, the Falcons lost their final four to end the season, then lost all 10 games in 2008, which led the the change of Marsh at the helm.
His first eight losses were of the blowout kind at times this season, but hope arose when Perry Meridian took then 6-1 Pike to the brink, losing to the Red Devils in double overtime.
The momentum seemed to carry over to this week as the Falcons started off fast on the road. Dearold Brooks was the star early on, first catching a screen pass and taking it 30 yards deep into Panther territory, then plunging it in from two yards out to give Perry Meridian the early 7-0 lead.
Read: Perry Close, But Not Good Enough To Get Past Southport
Bloomington South looked as if they would answer back quickly as the marched down field on the Falcon defense, but the drive was stopped when Rodney Ewing jumped in front of a Joey Forney pass in the endzone. The interception would stall the drive and the Bloomington South offense for the rest of the quarter, and the Falcons would avoid a repeat of last week and hold on for the three-point victory.
Marsh's team will hit the road for their first playoff game at Richmond next Friday night, while the Panthers-who fell to 3-6 for the regular season-will start the Class 5A playoffs with last season's defending champion Center Grove in Greenwood
