Perry, OH -- Last week, the West Branch football team stayed hot, securing its 10th straight win with a 35-14 playoff victory over the Norton Panthers in Beloit. This week, the Warriors will travel to Lake County Perry for a regional semifinal matchup against the top-seeded Pirates, who earned a 26-6 win over NDCL. Perry enters the game with an overall record of 9-2, while Coach Cooper's Warriors come in at 10-1.
2021 Playoff Meeting
The two programs last met in the playoffs during the 2021 season, when the Warriors pulled out a thrilling 26-19 victory.
QUICK HITTERS
Friday night's game will be a major test for the West Branch defense, which has been dominant all season... holding opponents to just 11.5 points per game and 201 total yards per contest... But the Warriors will be up to the challenge... The defense has forced 23 turnovers and recorded 12 sacks, showing consistency and toughness across the board... Leading the effort are EBC First Teamers Zach Coffee with 50 solo tackles and 15 tackles for loss, Gavin Hang with 31 solo tackles and 12 tackles for loss, and Lukas Black with 42 tackles and 8 tackles for loss, along with Second Teamers Grady Close with 43 tackles, Clayton Day with 39 tackles, and Drake Stryffeler with 2 interceptions... The secondary has been opportunistic, led by Grady Hirst with 4 interceptions, Jeremiah Thomas with 3 (including a pick-six last Friday), Drake Stryffeler with 2, and Jeremy Ramsey and Brock Woost each with 1...
Head Coach Tim Cooper, holds a 7-3 career playoff record with West Branch and the Warriors have been prepared each week to perform at a high level... The EBC Coach of the Year and his staff emphasize consistency, toughness, and execution, keeping West Branch ready to rise in big postseason moments...Offensively, EBC First Team quarterback Grady Hirst has thrown for 25 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while rushing for 585 yards and 7 touchdowns this season... Expect EBC Player of the Year Jeremiah Thomas, along with First Team tight end Gavin Gregory and Second Team playmaker Jake Weingart, to step up and make key plays in crucial situations...
Perry enters the regional semifinal averaging around 37 points per game and having faced eight teams with winning records this season, giving the Pirates plenty of postseason experience... Led by head coach Bob Gecewich, who owns a 58-10 career record and has guided Perry to five straight OHSAA regional semifinals, including the 2023 Division V State Championship, the team has been well-prepared for big games... Key players to watch include junior quarterback Nate Trefzger, a 6-1, 175-pound dual-threat recently named to the Northeast Lakes District Division IV First Team, and defensive lineman Trent Taylor, a Bowling Green commit, just two of many players who can make an impact for the Pirates.
Location:
Alumni Stadium (located at the High School)
1 Success Blvd, Perry, OH 44081
Kickoff:
7:00 PM
Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased at the gate with cash or online. There will be no pre-sale tickets.
Adults- $12
Students- $5
You can purchase tickets online by clicking here: West Branch at Perry Online Tickets
Gates will open at 5:30 PM
Streaming
Perry will have a stream for the playoff game. Click the link below to watch.
West Branch at Perry Live Stream
