CANTON — Earlier this weekend, Kirtland, Toledo Central, St. Edward and Marion Local captured Ohio High School Athletic Association football titles, updating their combined totals to 33 all-time.

While those never get old, and don’t lose their meaning, it’s nothing like the first one. Just ask Perry, which had a 21-14 winner over Liberty Center in the Division V championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, the school’s first ever title. 

It was a fantastic game between two undefeated teams, that finished one (Perry) and two (Liberty Center) in the final Division V Associated Press poll.

The Tigers took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, when Landon Amstutz connected with Colton Kruse on a four-yard touchdown.

Less than two minutes later, though, the Pirates’ Brayden Richards answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Luke Sivon (his second scoring reception of the day to go with 139 yards on seven catches) to tie the game. 

On Perry’s next drive, Richards kept it for a 60-yard touchdown, which proved to be the winning margin. Richards did a little of everything, running for 124 yards, completing three of four passes for 61 yards, and catching two passes for 46 more yards. 

Liberty Center (15-1) got the ball back with 3:21 left in the game on its own 23 and moved down to the Pirates’ 22 yard line with less a minute remaining but couldn’t get into the end zone. 

The Tigers got 164 yards rushing and a score from Trenton Kruse, while Colton added another 68 on the ground. 

Perry racked 437 yards of offense, with Richard splitting snaps with Walter Moses under center. Moses went 9 of 14 for 219 yards and a touchdown. 

The Pirates (16-0) completed a perfect season, which included a win in week three over Division VI state champion Kirtland, the Hornets only loss on the year. 

The Tigers were in their fourth state championship game, winning it all in 1997.

With just seven seniors on the roster, the Pirates will be in the conversation again in 2024 for state championship contenders.