Zebras strike for three quick scores, top Peru

By AUSTAN KAS
Tribune Sports Editor
Friday, August 29, 2008

ROCHESTER - Three Rochester touchdowns in a five-minute span spelled doom for the Peru football team Friday night, as the Zebras ran away with a 42-20 victory over the Tigers in the season opener Friday night at Rochester.

"Rochester came out in the second half and established their run game against us," said Peru coach Bill Skelton. "And we wore down a little bit, but I'm so proud of our kids effort. They never stopped playing hard. We'll get there. We're making some progress."

Mason Zimmer had a solid night throwing the ball for Peru (0-1). The senior quarterback was 23-34 passing for 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Austin Shaw carried the ball 13 times for 64 yards and hauled in eight passes for 81 yards. Brett Worden had five carries for 43 yards, and Zach Brunnemer caught eight passes for 92 yards.

Rochester (1-0) quarterback Brody Schoen was 8-13 passing for 180 yards, three scores and one interception. Colt Meadows led the Tigers on the ground with 71 yards on 15 carries. Austin Lowe caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Lowe also returned an interception for a touchdown.

It looked like Peru would go into the half with a lead when Ian Applegate picked off a pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown with just under three minutes left in the second quarter, giving Peru a 12-7 lead after a failed two-point conversion.

But Rochester answered with a four-play, 64-yard drive, capped off by a Kyle Nelson touchdown reception, putting the Zebras back in front 14-12 at the break.

Peru had little trouble moving the ball down the field against the Zebra defense on its first two drives.

The Tigers had a 10-play, 70-yard drive on their first possession and a 13-play, 61-yard march on its second, but Rochester's defense tightened both times, forcing a pair of field goals by Chris Smith.

"We just couldn't get it in the endzone," Skelton said. "When you get down there, you've got to be able to punch it in."

Rochester took control of the game with two quick strikes at the start of the second half.

The Zebras marched down the field in 2:30 on a five-play 57 yard drive, capped off by a Kevan Secrist 19-yard touchdown scamper. After forcing Peru into a three-and-out on the Tigers first offensive possession of the half, Schoen connected with Lowe for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive, stretching the Zebra lead to 28-12 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.

In a span a five minutes at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half, Peru saw a 12-7 lead turn into a 28-12 hole.

"We were able to change some things up at halftime and make them balance up a little bit," said Rochester coach Mark Miller. "They did some things we weren't ready for in the first half."

Lowe's interception return for a touchdown ballooned Rochester's lead to 35-12 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Zimmer hooked up with Zach Brunnemer over the middle for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 10:46 left in the game. Owen Jamison hauled in a pass in the back of the endzone, converting the two-point conversion and slicing the lead to 35-20.

Rochester running back Kevan Secrist capped off the scoring for the evening with a five-yard touchdown run, giving the Zebras a 42-20 lead with seven minutes remaining.

For the game, the Tigers gained 321 yards to Rochester's 339 yards. Peru had 20 first downs compared to 10 for the Zebras.

Peru hosts Logansport in a rivalry game next Friday at 7 p.m. Last season the Berries topped Peru 28-0.

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