Program History | Perry Football

Harvey Sword OL/DL, Tom Nelson DE/E, Tim Laps RB, Steve Fink RB/DB, Lance Burick RB/LB, Dan Douglas DB, Jamie Howell DB/QB, Chuck Jolliff OL/DL, Dick Nelson RB, Archie Herring RB, Eric Heinzer RB/LB, Don Dobina TE/LB, Ron Kaylor QB, Fred Saylor Jr. OL/DL, Zach Slates OL/DL, Ron Sense DL/OL, Jim Luke LB/FB, Doug Lantz DE/RB, Travis Kovach DL, Ray Harris OL/DL, Bob Draime OL, John Kropf OL/DL, Keb Snyder OL/DL, Joel Kessel DB/QB, Rod Strata OL/DL, Chuck Barton QB, Doug Burwell OL/DL, Dalon Myricks RB, Steve Meredith P/QB/Coach, Bob Kilpatrick DB/Coach, Jim Hambach OL/DL, Matt Campbell TE/DE, Ben James LB/RB, Dave Fach QB, Rick Catazaro QB, Tony Frazier LB.

100th Win, 1974 vs. Fairless 27-0
200th Win 1992 vs. Wooster 47-25
300th Win 2006 vs. Hillard Darby 31-24
400th Win 2021 vs. Louisville 34-14

1962 Jerry Ridgeway vs. Tuslaw 30
1969 Tim Laps vs. Jackson 30
2006 Eric Magnacca vs. Jackson 30
2010 Jon Miller vs. Hoover 30
2015 Keishaun Sims vs. Green 36
2019 Dion Cundiff vs. Central Catholic 36

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Top 5 Regular Season Scoring Teams in Perry Football History
1992 - 364 pts. record 10-0* Keith Wakefield **
1999 - 357 pts. record 7-3* Keith Wakefield **
2015 - 340 pts. record 8-2* Keith Wakefield **
2018 - 330 pts. record 8-2 Keith Wakefield
1997 - 326 pts. record 8-2 Keith Wakefield **
2010 - 326 pts. record 7-3 Keith Boedicker

Top 5 Regular Season Defensive Teams Giving Up The Fewest Points
1969 - 38 pts. record 10-0 Tom Winkhart **
1984 - 56 pts. record 8-2 Keith Wakefield **
2002 - 68 pts. record 9-1 Keith Wakefield
1974 - 71 pts. record 8-1-1 Tom Winkhart
1993 - 83 pts. record 9-1 Keith Wakefield **

The Panthers top 5 single game rushing performances:
1. 2015 Keishaun Sims 349 yards vs. Tri-Valley (OHSAA Playoffs)
2. 2020 Josh Lemon 285 yards vs. McKinley
3. 2008 Caleb Laps 277 yards vs. Boardman
4. 2019 Dion Cundiff 274 yards vs. Central Catholic
5. 1968 Tim Laps 272 yards vs. Oakwood

Top 3 single game passing performances
1. 2010 Cody Minor 244 yards vs. Canton South
2. 1971 Doug Kaylor 217 yards vs. Marlington
3. 1973 Al Ziegelhofer 200 yards vs. Oakwood

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First 10 game season - 1961

First game played in Perry Stadium (now Wakefield Stadium) Sept., 12, 1958 in front of 2,000 fans. North Canton Hoover 8 Perry 0

Most points scored in a game 72 vs. Crestview, 1961 (Columbiana County)

Longest regular season winning streak - 17 games 1992-93

Most shutouts in a 10 game season - 6 (1969)

Most shutouts in a season with playoffs - 3 (2002)

Fewest points allowed in a 10 game season - 38 (1969)

Fewest points allowed in a season with playoffs - 94 (2002)

Most points scored in a 10 game season - 364 (1992)

Most points scored in a season with playoffs - 453 (2015)

Coincidence or something freaky. Perry’s first win over Hoover was the 13th game of the series played in 1969 on Friday the 13th. Plus our mascot is a big black cat.

Most wins in a season with playoffs - 12 (2015 & 2016)

All Time Wins & Losses 431-280-7 (updated 9/13)
All Time Federal League Wins & Losses 236-164-3

George Schuster (1956) 2-6 (5 JV Games & 3 Varsity Games)
Jerry Wampfler (1957-1961) 24-19-1 (Won Perry’s First League Championship In 1961; The Stark AA League) Coach Wampfler Went On To Be The Notre Dame Offensive Line Coach Under Ara Parsehgian For 5 Years And Was An Offensive Line Coach For 7 NFL Teams From 1970-1993)
John Evans (1962-64) 11-16-3
Tom Winkhart (1965-1976) Won Perry’s First Federal League Championship In 1967, And Won League Championships In 1969 & 1970. From 1969-1972 His Teams Went 35-5)
Joe Demaree (1977-1981) 31-17-2 (Won The Federal League Championship In 1980)
Keith Wakefield Part 1 (1982-2003) 158-72 (Won 11 Federal League Championships And Made 4 Playoff Appearances, Won The Regional Championship In 2000 & The Final 4 In 2000)
John “Spider” Miller (2004-2009) 30-31 (Made 1 Playoff Appearance In 2006)
Keith Boedicker (2010-12) 13-17
Keith Wakefield Part 2 (2013-2020) 65-29 (Federal League Championships In 2015, 16, 17 & 2020. Made 6 Playoff Appearances. Regional Champions & State Championship Runners Up In 2015 & 16)
Zach Slates (2021-2024) 16-28 (Made 3 Playoff Appearances)
Spencer Leno (2025-)

Dedicated in September 1958 (Capacity 1,500)
Expanded in 1961 with the home side switching to the south side (Capacity 3,000)
Expanded in 1970 with the home side returning to the north side (Capacity 5,600)
Expanded in 2006 with a new visitors stands and wings added to the home stands (6,800)

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The Federal League Was Formed In 1964 With Charter Members; Canton South, Fairless, Glenwood (Plain Twp.) Jackson, Marlington, Perry and Sandy Valley.
In 1968, Sandy Valley Left, While Louisville, Hoover and Oakwood (Plain Twp.) Joined.
In 1975 Fairless Left, Glenwood merged with Oakwood To Form GlenOak.
During The 80’s Alliance Joined, Marlington Left After The 1984 Season. 1987 Saw Lake, New Philadelphia, Canton Timken and Wooster Joining Making It A 10 Team League Which Split Into Two Divisions, The American & National. Canton South Left In 1987 To Join The Northeastern Buckeye Conference, As Did Louisville After The 1989 Season. Canton Timken Left After The 1995 Season. The League Returned To One Division. New Philadelphia Left After The 1997 Season. Perry Played Timken From 1962-72 As Non League Opponent. Perry Played New Philadelphia As Non League Opponent From 2013-2016.

Perry vs. Fairless 1961-1975 Perry 10-3-1
Perry vs. Glenwood 1957-1974 Perry 9-8
Perry vs. Marlington 1960-1984 Perry 23-2
Perry vs. Oakwood 1968-1974 Perry 5-2
Perry vs. Sandy Valley 1957-1967 Perry 8-2-1
Perry vs. Canton Timken 1962-1972 (Non League) 1988-1994 (Federal League) Perry 14-3

Perry’s First Varsity Win In School History Was In 1957, A 27-6 Win Over Marlboro High School (Now Part Of Marlington, As They Consolidated With Lexington Twp. High School To Form Marlington in 1960)

Perry’s First League Championship Was In 1961. The Panthers Went 8-2 Under Head Coach Jerry Wampfler To Win The Stark County Class AA League. The Panthers 8-6 Win Over Jackson, Their First Ever Over The Polar Bears Secured The League Title.

Perry’s First Federal League Championship Was In 1967. The Panthers went 6-3-1 Under Head Coach Tom Winkhart And 5-0-1 In League Play. Big Wins Over Canton South, 21-18 and Glenwood, 6-0, Along With An 8-8 Tie With Jackson, Who Already Had One Tie, Giving Them Two, Propelled The Panthers To A Half Game Win Of The League Title.

Hilliard Darby 2003-06 Perry Leads 3-1
Dublin Coffman 2011-12 Coffman 2-0
Akron East 2019 & 2021 Perry Leads 2-0
Walsh Jesuit 2017 Perry Leads 1-0
North Royalton 2021 NR 1-0
Clarkson North (Canada) 2021 North 1-0
Wooster 1988-2006 Perry Leads 16-3
Stow 1971, 1993-2002 Perry Leads 8-3
Louisville 1967-1989, 1995-98, 2018-23 Perry Leads 21-11
Zanesville 1973 & 1987 Tied at 1
Steubenville 1980 & 81, 1990 & 93 Tied 2-2
Lancaster 1991-92 Perry Leads 2-0
Columbus Eastmoor 2000-02 Perry Leads 3-0
Brunswick 2009-10 Tied 1-1
Parma Padua 1978, 2013-14 Padua 2-1
Vandalia Butler 2016-17 Perry Leads 2-0
Naperville North (Illinois) Perry Leads 1-0
Westerville South 1995-96 Tied 1-1
Akron Firestone 1998-99 Perry Leads 2-0
New Philadelphia 1986-87, 1990-97, 2013-16 Perry Leads 11-3
Alliance 1982-2002 Perry Leads 16-5
Massillon 1978-1985, 1999-2000, 2002, 2006, 2012-15, 2019, 2020 & 2022 Massillon Leads 18-2 (Perry’s Wins, 1999 OHSAA Playoffs & 2000 Regular Season)

Points Scored 352 Keishaun Sims 2013-15
Touchdowns 58 Keishaun Sims 2013-15
Rushing Attempts 632 Keishaun Sims 2013-15
Rushing Yardage 4810 Keishaun Sims 2013-15
Passes Attempted 408 Adron Bealer 2011-12
Passes Completed 208 Adron Bealer 2011-12
Passing Yardage 2441 Adron Bealer 2011-12
Touchdown Passes 23 Dave Fach 1978-80
Pass Completion % 58% Steve Meredith 1968-70
Passes Caught 67 Don Dobina 1968-70
Pass Receiving Yardage 1031 Don Dobina 1968-70
Touchdown Passes Caught 11 Greg Janowicz 1976-78
Field Goals 10 Mason Brown 2015-16 and Caden Basham 2017-18
Extra Points Kicked 94 Mason Brown 2015-16
Consecutive Extra Points 47 Caden Basham 2017-18
Interceptions 15 Robby Kirchner 2015-17
QB Sacks 34 Brian Coleman 1975-77
Games Played 48 Tevion Cleveland 2013-16

RB Joshua Lemon 2020 Stark County MVP Second Team All Ohio

RB Keishaun Sims 2015 Stark County MVP Mr. Ohio Football

RB Eric Heinzer 2000 Stark County MVP First Team All Ohio

RB Lance Burick 1996 Stark County MVP First Team All Ohio

RB Tim Laps 1969 Stark County MVP All Ohio

Perry vs. Green
Perry Leads The Series 7-3
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2015 Perry 50-14 - H
2016 Perry 35-30 - A
2017 Perry 38-0 - H
2018 Perry 56-22 - A
2019 Perry 42-21 - H
2020 DNP COVID
2021 Green 28-0 - H
2022 Green 38-35 - A
2023 Perry 20-14 - H
2024 Perry 21-16 -A
2025 Green 28-21 - H

Perry vs. GlenOak
Perry Leads The Series 29-22
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2016 Perry 30-24 - A (Biggest Comeback In Perry History Down 24-7 In The 4th Quarter)
2017 Perry 24-7 - H
2018 Perry 42-0 - A
2019 Perry 48-14 - H
2020 Perry 42-0 - A
2021 GlenOak 27-24 - H OT
2022 GlenOak 28-21 - A
2023 GlenOak 21-16 - H
2024 Perry 38-21 - A
2025 Perry 28-0 - H

Perry vs. McKinley
McKinley Leads The Series 14-11
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2016 Perry 7-6 - A
2017 Perry 28-20 - H
2018 Perry 31-28 - A
2019 McKinley 28-17 - H
2020 Perry 35-23 - A
2021 McKinley 27-25 - H
2022 Perry 38-28 - A
2023 McKinley 44-6 - H
2024 McKinley 38-7 - A
2025 McKinley 28-18 - H

Perry vs. Jackson
Perry Leads The Series 33-32
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2016 Jackson 21-14 - H
2017 Jackson 38-7 - A
2018 Perry 24-14 - H
2019 Jackson 27-14 - A
2020 Perry 14-13 - H
2021 Jackson 55-30 - A
2022 Jackson 32-31 - H OT
2023 Jackson 49-14 - A
2024 Jackson 31-13 - H
2025 Perry 21-19 - A

Perry vs. Hoover
Hoover Leads The Series 47-23
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2016 Perry 21-14 - H
2017 Perry 35-27 - A
2018 Hoover 35-21 - H
2019 Perry 35-28 - A
2020 Perry 20-14 - H
2021 Hoover 27-10 - A
2022 Hoover 24-14 - H
2023 Hoover 37-34 - A OT
2024 Hoover 27-10 - H
2025 Hoover 35-21 - A

Points Scored 264 Keishaun Sims 2015
Touchdowns 44 Keishaun Sims 2015
Rushing Attempts 421 Keishaun Sims 2015
Rushing Yardage 3224 Keishaun Sims 2015
Average Rushing Yds. Per Game 215 Keishaun Sims 2015
Yards Per Carry 11.1 Joshua Lemon 2018
Passes Attempted 227 Adron Bealer 2012
Passes Completed 118 Adron Bealer 2012
Passing Yardage 1530 Cody Minor 2010
Touchdown Passes 13 Cody Minor 2010 & Adron Bealer 2012
Passes Caught 35 Don Dobina 1970
Pass Receiving Yardage 649 Tony Magnacca
Touchdown Passes Caught 7 Greg Janowicz 1978
Pass Completion Percentage 61.5% Chuck Barton 1969
Average Yards Per Punt 42.1 Nick Myers 2016
Average Punt Return 15.1 Bob Washburn 1976
Average Kickoff Return 37.7 Bob Washburn 1976
Most Interceptions 9 Brent Vogt 1988
Extra Points Kicked 50 Mason Brown 2016
Most Field Goals 7 Caden Basham 2018
Most TD Passes By A Non QB 2 Scott Slicker 1978

Perry vs. Central Catholic
Perry Leads The Series 20-9
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2017 Perry 21-7 - A
2018 Perry 28-27 - H
2019 Perry 42-26 - A (Start Of Thursday Night Games)
2020 Perry 28-0 - H
2021 Central 28-27 - A OT
2022 Perry 51-28 - H
2023 Perry 42-25 - A
2024 Perry 35-0 - H
2025 Perry 41-14 - A
2026 Perry 42-7 -H

Perry vs. Saint Vincent Saint Mary
Perry Leads 3-1
Scores
2023 SVSM 18-17 - H
2024 Perry 17-0 - A
2025 Perry 36-0 - H
2026 Perry 41-0 - A

Perry vs. Warren Harding
Warren leads 2-1
Scores
2024 Warren 15-9 - H
2025 Perry 20-15 - A
2026 Warren 34-7 - H

Perry vs. Lake
Perry Leads The Series 23-17
Scores Over The Last 10 Years
2017 Perry 42-7 - A
2018 Lake 27-23 - H
2019 Perry 51-13 - A
2020 Perry 21-3 - H
2021 Lake 28-27 - A 2OT
2022 Lake 35-7 - H
2023 Lake 37-14 - A
2023 Lake 35-14 - A (First Round OHSAA Playoffs)
2024 Perry 17-7 - H
2025 Lake 31-15 - A
2026 Lake 15-9 - H

RB Tim Laps 1967-69
RB/LB Lance Burick 1994-96
RB Eric Heinzer 1998-2000
OL/DL Zach Slates 2000-2002
Head Coach Tom Winkhart 1965-1976
Head Coach Keith Wakefield 1982-2003 - 2013-2020

Points Scored - 36 Keishaun Sims vs. Green 2015
36 Dion Cundiff vs. Central Catholic 2019
Touchdowns - 6 Keishaun Sims vs. Green 2015
6 Dion Cundiff vs. Central Catholic 2019
Rushing Attempts - 40 Keishaun Sims vs. GlenOak 2015
Rushing Yardage - 349 Keishaun Sims vs. Tri - Valley 2015
Yards Per Carry - 21.8 Keishaun Sims vs. Massillon 2014
Longest Run From Scrimmage - John Veniski 98 yds. vs. Marlboro 1957
Passes Attempted - 42 Adron Bealer vs. GlenOak 2012
42 Rick Catazaro vs. Hoover 1981
Passes Completed - 21 Rick Catazaro vs. Hoover 1981
Passing Yardage - 244 Cody Minor vs. Canton South 2010
Longest Punt Return (Not A TD) - 78 yds. Gary Presutti vs. Jackson 1992
(For A TD) - 75 yds. Vince Mazzocca vs. Oakwood 1971
Longest Kickoff Return - 98 yds. Dominic Vinas vs. Dublin Scioto 2020
Field Goals - 3 Woody Smith vs. Jackson 1984
3 Caden Basham vs. Lake 2018
Longest Field Goal - 50 yds. Brock Huggins vs. Lake 2024

Top 5 Longest Runs For Touchdowns
1. 1957 John Vaneski 98 yds. vs. Marlboro
2. 2018 Sha ‘Vea Lightner 92 yds. vs. Green
3. 2015 Keishaun Sims 90 yds. vs. Hoover
4. 2002 Mike Schleiden 89 yds. vs. McKinley
5. 2015 Keishaun Sims 86 yds. vs. Tri-Valley (OHSAA Playoff)

Top 5 Longest Passes For Touchdowns
1. 1968 Chuck Barton to Scott Kienzle 97 yds. vs. Hoover
2. 2023 Austin Mattox to Kyson Walker 91 yds. vs. Louisville
3. 2009 Adam Offenberger to Brandon Marshall 85 yds. vs. Central Catholic
3. 1989 Troy Burick to Jason West 85 yds. vs. GlenOak
4. 2019 Hayden Vinas to Joshua Lemon 75 yds. vs. Green
4. 2019 Hayden Vinas to Devonte Armstrong 75 yds. vs. McKinley
4. 1978 John Vasilides to Steve Fink 75 yds. vs. Parma Padua
5. 1989 Jason West to Bill Kirchner 73 yds. vs. Alliance

Top 5 Longest Kickoff Returns For Touchdowns
1. 2020 Dominic Vinas 98 yds. vs. Dublin Scioto (OHSAA Playoff)
2. 1968 Tim Laps 95 yds. vs. Jackson
3. 1997 Josh Luke 94 yds. vs. Wooster
4. 1984 Jeff Clark 93 yds. vs. Marlington
5. 1991 Eric Magnacca 91 yds. vs. Hilliard Darby
5. 1974 Bob Washburn 91 yds. vs. Louisville

Top 4 Punt Returns For Touchdowns
1. 1971 Vince Mazzocca 75 yds. vs. Oakwood
2. 1974 Bob Washburn 65 yds. vs. Cambridge
2. 1977 Dalon Myricks 65 yds. vs. Cleve. Lincoln West
2. 1989 Bill Kirchner 65 yds. vs. Youngstown South
3. 1999 Joe Bailey 57 yds. vs. GlenOak

Top 5 Interception Returns For Touchdowns
1. 2015 Keishaun Sims 89 yds. vs. Hoover
2. 2023 Austin Mattox 76 yds. vs. Green
3. 1972 Roger Lloyd 70 yds. vs. Marlington
4. 1984 Jeff Clark 63 yds. vs. Alliance
5. 2018 Frank Sciury 60 yds. vs. West Toronto

Top 3 Fumble Returns For Touchdowns
1. 1979 Mike Daniels 83 yds. vs. Louisville
2. 2014 Keishaun Sims 54 yds. vs. Boardman
3. 1996 Jamie Pitts 47 yds. vs. Louisville

Top 3 Blocked Punts For Touchdowns
1. 1991 Tony Carr 38 yds. vs. Wooster
2. 1995 Lance Burick 36 yds. vs. Wooster
3. 1986 Mike Vogt 34 yds. vs. GlenOak

Top 5 Longest Field Goals
1. 2020 Brock Huggins 50 yds. vs. Lake
2. 2018 Caden Basham 44 yds. vs. Louisville
3. 2018 Caden Basham 43 yds. vs. Lake
4. 2015 Mason Brown 42 yds. vs. GlenOak
4. 2009 Ben Karam 42 yds. vs. Boardman
5. 2016 Mason Brown 40 yds. vs. GlenOak

Playoff Years
1992 (D-1 First Round)
1999 (D-1 Regional Finals)
2000 (D-1 Regional Champions & State Final 4)
2002 (D-1 Regional Semi Finals)
2006 (D-1 First Round)
2014 (D-1 First Round)
2015 (D-2 Regional Champions & State Championship Runner Up)
2016 (D-2 Regional Champions & State Championship Runner Up)
2017 (D-1 First Round)
2020 (D-2 Regional Finals)
2022 (D-2 First Round)
2023 (D-2 First Round)
2024 (D-2 Regional Finals)

Playoff Results
1992 Fitch 27 Perry 6 (At PBTS)

1999 Perry 23 Massillon 6 (First Ever Victory Over The Tigers, Who Were Undefeated And No.1 In Our Region) (At PBTS)
Perry 7 McKinley 0 (At The Akron Rubber Bowl)
Pickerington 16 Perry 14 (Regional Final At Mansfield Tyger Stadium)

2000 Perry 25 Toledo Whitmer 12 (At Perry Stadium)
Perry 28 Hoover 27 (OT At Fawcett Stadium)
Perry 38 Marion Harding 21 (At Mansfield Tyger Stadium Regional Champions)
Solon 28 Perry 7 (At Kent State Stadium, State Semi Final)

2002 Perry 7 Dublin Scioto 3 (At Dublin Scioto)
Massillon 23 Perry 21 (Regional Semi Final At Fawcett Stadium)

2006 Massillon 41 Perry 20 (At Perry Stadium)

2014 Hudson 29 Perry 0 (At Hudson)

2015 D-2 Perry 35 Mansfield Senior 0 (At Perry Stadium)
Perry 40 Tri-Valley 14 (At Dover Crater Stadium)
Perry 28 Worthington Kilbourne 7 (Regional Champions At Mount Vernon)
Perry 10 Hudson 7 (State Semi Final At Solon)
LaSalle 42 Perry 0 (State Championship Game At Ohio Stadium)

2016 Perry 21 Lake 7 (At Perry Stadium)
Perry 66 Franklin Heights 28 (At Mount Vernon)
Perry 17 New Albany 9 (Regional Champions At Mansfield)
Perry 14 Hudson 3 (State Semi Final At Lake Blue Streak Stadium)
LaSalle 14 Perry 7 (State Championship Game At Ohio Stadium)

2017 D-1 Saint Ignatius 24 Perry 7 (At Byers Field)

2019 D-2 Perry 37 Hudson 27
Massillon 35 Perry 7

2020 D-2 Perry 42 Canal Winchester 0 (At Perry Stadium)
Perry 35 Dublin Scioto 10 (At Perry Stadium)
Perry 14 Olentangy Lewis Center 13 (At Perry Stadium)
Massillon 43 Perry 13 (Regional Final At Perry Stadium)

2022 Massillon 48 Perry 7 (At PBTS)

2023 Lake 35 Perry 14 (At Lake Blue Streak Stadium)

2024 Perry 34 Columbus Northland 6 (At Northland)
Big Walnut 35 Perry 24 (Regional Semi Final At Big Walnut)g

1961**(Stark Class AA League), 1967*, 1969*, 1970, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992*, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020
* Undefeated Season

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