Perzanowski Runs Wild To Power Union Local Over St. Clairsville

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Big-time players step up in big-time games.

Union Local's Brody Perzanowski accounted for five touchdowns Friday night as the Jets (2-0) ended a long losing streak at Red Devil Stadium with a convincing, 40-21, shellacking of St. Clairsville before a standing-room-only crowd.

Union Local hadn't won at St. Clairsville since 2009 which was the final Belmont County Fair game in which current Jets head coach Bernie Thompson caught the game-winning touchdown pass with less than a minute to go. They also hadn't beat their neighboring rival since 2016.

Last night the Jets had to come from behind once again as quarterback Brody Clifford lofted a pass that Matheson King ran under and took to the house for an 82-yard scoring connection. James Parsons made it 7-0 just 29 seconds into the contest.

Perzanowski had 359 all-purpose yards. He finished with 36 carries for 282 yards and a trio of touchdowns on the ground, while also catching four passes for 54 additional stripes and another pair of six-pointers.

After being stopped short on a fourth-and-2 from the Red Devils' 17 on their first drive, the Jets drew even when sophomore quarterback Evan Poziviak flipped a short pass to Perzanowski in the right flat. The 5-10, 200-pounder broke a tackle at the 5 before walking into the end zone. Jeff Bolon knotted the game at 7.

The game turned on a defensive touchdown as Union Local's Seth Schumacher scooped up a St. Clairsville fumble and rambled 40 yards to paydirt and Bolon's conversion made it 14-7.

Eli Rogers gave Union Local excellent field position with a 44-yard punt return and Perzanowski went around left end on the next play from 8 yards out. Bolon's PAT made it 21-7.

Jackson Mercer gave the Red Devils a chance at getting closer when he intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards to the Jets' 30. St. Clairsville moved the ball to the 1 before spiking it with :01 on the clock. A low snap resulted in no points as the half ended.

St. Clairsville's Jeremy Tharp recovered a muffed punt to set the Red Devils up at Union Local's 33, but the Jets' Landen Davis fell on a loose ball on the ensuing play to get the ball right back.

Perzanowski carried four straight times in moving the ball to the Red Devils' 24 before he caught a pass from Poziviak and converted into a 24-yard scoring play. The PAT was blocked but the visitors led 27-7.

Clifford and Mercer teamed up for a 49-yard TD strike and Parsons' placement made it 27-14 near the end of the third quarter.

Hill recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to give the Red Devils possession near midfield, but Rogers picked off Clifford three plays later and Union Local once again turned the turnover into points.

Seven consecutive carries by Perzanowski ended with a 17-yard scoring jaunt that saw him start up the middle before cutting to his left and outrunning everyone to the promised land. The two-point pass failed, but the visitors were ahead, 33-14.

Perzanowski's performance would not have been possible without the blocking of Jameson Bable, Landen Davis, Konnor Kovacs, Johnny Hercules, Isaiah Eberhart and Jace Hercules.

Clifford and Mercer hooked up for St. Clairsville's final score to make it 33-21, but Perzanowski put a capper on his outstanding effort. Clifford passed for 181 yards and three touchdowns in his first varsity start. He was subbing for injured starter Luke Schafer. Mercer had two catches for 61 yards.

With the loss, St. Clairsville fell to 0-2 for the first time since the 2016 season. They host Beaver Local next Friday. Union Local, meanwhile, makes its home debut as Indian Creek visits.