McKEESPORT, Pa. — The McKeesport Tigers are in the midst of a historical season, and they managed to continue it on Friday night with a lopsided victory over Gateway, 41-17. The Gators are not a push-over team, as they entered the matchup as the number two team in the WPIAL Class-5A.
McKeesport runs a triple-option offense and has the weapons to make it an explosive unit. The senior duo of Jahmil Perryman and Bobbie Boyd Jr. form a lethal rushing attack that helps them average 34 points per game. The Tigers defense is on a historic pace, allowing only 36 total points through eight games, a whooping 4.5 points per game allowed.
Friday’s matchup showcased much more than a great team, it showcased one of their best players and leaders. The quarterback Perryman scored four touchdowns against the Gators. He displayed the threat a mobile quarterback brings with rushing for touchdowns of 75-yards and 85-yards, along with another 1-yard scamper. He finished the game with 14 carries and 156 rushing yards. His fourth touchdown of the game came on a 43-yard defensive scoop-and-score.
Perryman downplayed his performance in favor of giving praise to his teammates and the coaching staff, saying that it felt “really good” to help his team in the manner that he did. “Our defense was key, we got turnovers, and we ran the correct plays,” he explained to Pittsburgh Sports Now after the game.
Perryman plays on both sides of the ball, at quarterback and defensive back. He has shown that he can excel at both and talked to PSN about possibly playing either side at the next level. “I love to run the ball but I know that I can play defense” was his response to which position he favored more. As far as playing one or the other in college, he said with a smile, “Wherever a a coach needs me.”
Perryman has multiple Division-I offers that include Army, Navy and Air Force among others. He noted that he has plans to visit a few different schools in the near future. A few more loud performances like the one he put forth on Friday will surely attract even more Division-I attention.
With the Tigers reaching a record of 8-0, they are in a prime position to run the table and make a serious run at the WPIAL Championsip. A year ago, the Tigers found themselves in a similar posititon to make a run at the championship. That run came to a halt at the hands of the eventual Class-4A Champions, Aliquippa in a disappointing playoff loss.
Perryman and Boyd are the Tigers’ hope to get over that hump. With the highlight plays Boyd makes, Perryman just needs to play his game and they have a chance to go down as one of the best teams that the WPIAL has ever saw.
