"We Played Each Other in High School": Perry vs. Green Football Features High School Rivals Turned Head Coaches
Once high school rivals, Geis and Slates now lead their teams into a pivotal matchup. With Green's Anthony McMichael III and Perry's Austin Mattox headlining the game, the stakes are higher than ever.
For Green’s head football coach Mark Geis, his team’s matchup against Perry this Friday is one that’s been in the making for over 20 years.
“We actually played each other back in high school, so him and I have known each other for a long time.” Geis said.
Keith Wakefield, who served as the Perry head coach from 1987-2003 and 2013-2020, led Perry’s current head coach Zach Slates’ the same time Geis played for Hoover High School. Wakefield is now Slates’ defensive coordinator.
Geis’s senior season at Hoover saw him as a captain, where his team’s playoff hopes were ended by the then Wakefield-ran Perry Panthers.
On Friday, the former opponents will meet for the fourth time as head coaches.
Here’s everything you need to know before Perry travels to Green Memorial Stadium.
Perry Panthers (3-5, 1-3): ‘Wing-T’ It to Win It
Perry has been struggling with four consecutive losses after a 3-1 start. But there’s some good news—two-way playmakers Kyson Walker and Jayden Wilson are expected to return to bigger roles this week after missing recent games. Perry's running game is well-balanced, racking up 1,562 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Connor Shephard contributing 339 yards and four scores. Green went 10-4 last season, and Perry went 4-7, but Perry beat Green 20-14 and currently lead the all-time series 6-2.
Senior Austin Mattox shoulders a lot for the Panthers, playing as both quarterback and safety. Mattox, a three-year senior starter, threw for 856 yards and six touchdowns last season while rushing for 378 yards and four touchdowns. This season, he’s had seven touchdowns—both passing and rushing—and leads the team in tackles and interceptions. He owns 46 tackles, and is tied for the second most interceptions in the Federal League.
Starting for three years, Mattox isn’t a stranger to Green.
“He’s really a do-it-all, kind of like a Swiss Army Knife on the field. He’s like a true throwback football player in the fact that he does it all. It’s really cool to see.” Geis said.
Perry has increased those passing numbers, and have done it partly to expand the wing-T offense. The senior isn’t just handling business at QB—on defense, he's snagged three interceptions and tops the team with 46 tackles, proving he’s just as dangerous on both sides of the ball.
"I hate to, like, sound old—that's what the '90s kind of looked like. You turned on Federal League film, you saw someone that stood out on film and played all three phases of the game, and that's what he does." Geis said about Mattox.
Junior Connor Shephard is the leading rusher, tallying 339 yards on 71 carries with 4 touchdowns. Known for his consistency, Shephard can break off significant runs; his longest run this season was 40 yards. Senior Kyson Walker also stands out, contributing 261 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while adding another dimension in the passing game with 13 receptions for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. His ability to impact both the ground and air attacks makes him a key offensive weapon.
But it isn’t just Walker and Shepard doing the heavy lifting, it’s genuinely a consistent run game all around. It’s practically what Perry’s known for. Their wing-T offense has been a staple of the program, and this year isn’t any different.
“This is, normally, how they operate. They usually don’t have someone who stands out having a ton of carries, usually they just have a lot of solid football players who know how to do their job really well. That’s how they’re operating this year.” Geis said.
Senior Marcellys Harris has quietly contributed 118 yards on 22 carries, boasting an impressive 5.4 yards per carry average. Though he hasn’t scored any rushing touchdowns yet, Harris is a reliable option who adds depth to the backfield.
Junior Kaleb Lawhun has also made his presence known, with 106 yards on 27 carries. Averaging 3.9 yards per carry, Lawhun provides solid support in the rushing attack, helping keep the defense on their heels.
Sophomore Jonathan Lemon has contributed 166 rushing yards on 31 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Though he hasn’t scored any touchdowns yet, his ability to gain solid yardage each time he touches the ball adds important depth to Perry’s backfield.
Green Bulldogs (6-2, 3-1): The Power of ‘III’
Green has plenty of pieces on offense and defense, with most of those pieces playing both sides of the ball. Some even remain in the game throughout all three phases.
Anthony McMichael III, a junior who earned a starting safety role in his sophomore season, has worked his way up to becoming the anchor of a Green defense that has racked up 13 total team interceptions.. McMichael currently leads the Federal League in interceptions, having four under his belt. He also plays offense, where he’s split reps with fellow junior Evan Reed. The two-way safety had a career-high 87 rushing yards against GlenOak.
Speaking of Evan Reed, he’s barely behind McKinley’s Nino Hill for the most touchdowns in the Federal League this season. Owning nine to his name, not all of them have been at running back; Reed had a kickoff return touchdown last week against Louisville.
At quarterback, junior Tyson Hunka has been a steady presence for Green, completing 58% of his passes for 1,311 yards. Hunka has thrown for ten touchdowns while being intercepted six times.
Senior wide receiver Antonio Martin has been one of Tyson Hunka’s main targets, recording 23 catches for 368 yards, with an average of 16 yards per reception, all in just five games. Martin missed the first three weeks of the season due to an ACL injury sustained during basketball, but since his return, he’s made a significant impact, posting strong numbers in a short span. In the 2023 season, he earned All-Ohio honors as a cornerback; Martin currently has three interceptions since his 2024 debut.
Junior two-way lineman Dario Lombardi leads the team with four sacks, supported by 2023 All-Federal League senior linebacker AJ Fortunato. AJ’s twin brother, Anthony Fortunato, has also had an outstanding season, making big plays in every game. Anthony has delivered impact moments on both sides of the ball, with interceptions on defense and house calls on offense.
Perry is no stranger to upsets. They defeated Lake 17-7 in their Federal League opener during week four. The Panthers nearly pulled off another upset against Austintown-Fitch but fell short, losing 20-15. Austintown-Fitch is in a similar position as Green, having also secured a 35-0 victory over GlenOak.
If the Bulldogs win out, they could earn a share of the 2024 Federal League football title with a McKinley loss this Friday.
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