Coury, Perkins help Burrell edge East Allegheny; Purdue makes game-saving interception

By: Brennan Valladares
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 10:55 PM

With East Allegheny driving down the field, Burrell’s Liam Perdue made a bobbling, game-saving interception to seal the Bucs’ 29-28 win in Section 2-3A victory Friday.

“I think we all did great as a team,” Perdue said. “We fought in the end, and we battled together. I just got lucky enough to make the game-sealing (play). But it wasn’t just on me. We all had a part in something.”

And a big part of Burrell’s success was its run game, led by Antonio Perkins and Trey Coury. The quarterback-running back duo took all 44 touches amassing 304 total yards. Perkins accounted for 180 yards on the ground and all four of the Bucs’ touchdowns.

“For a couple of weeks, we were trying to find what works for us,” Perkins said. “Well, today, we just, we just trusted our coach. He made the right calls, and we just went to work.”

Said Coury: “But it all starts with the line. You know, they were great all week in practice. We practiced hard all week. They knew that we were going to have to establish a run, and we did a great job of it.”

For East Allegheny, Cedric Mack went 14 of 25 passing for 260 yards and three touchdowns.

Burrell’s opening drive took up half of the first quarter, as the Bucs went 89 yards in 11 plays for their first score. Nine of those plays were runs by Perkins and Coury, with the former dashing in for the 1-yard touchdown.

East Allegheny almost responded four plays into its first possession. After a few runs by Damarje Warren out of the wildcat, Mack checked in. He threw a 33-yard pass to Ronte Lawrence, who took it to the end zone for what would have been an 82-yard gain. However, the score was called back after a holding penalty on the Wildcats.

East Allegheny would punt the ball, and neither side would score for the rest of the quarter.

The second quarter was all East Allegheny, as it would put up 16 unanswered points to take a 16-7 lead into the half. The Wildcats were able to pull off a fake punt, courtesy of Mack, which set up a Tanner Loya touchdown reception. East Allegheny would go to Warren for the 2-point conversion.

After forcing a Bucs punt on the next defensive possession, Mack scrambled for a 24-yard gain from the Wildcats’ 3. After a few more successful plays, Mack dropped back and found Loya again for the duo’s second touchdown of the evening. Mack would find Chris Portis on the 2-point try, giving the Wildcats the 16-7 advantage.

To start the third, Burrell forced a three-and-out and took over at the East Allegheny 46. Five of the Bucs’ six plays were runs, capped by Perkins’ second touchdown. Coury’s number was dialed on the 2-point conversion, which he converted, bringing the score to 16-14.

On East Allegheny’s next possession, Mack extended the play from his team’s 24-yard line. After buying time, he found Damian Goods for a 26-yard touchdown. The Wildcats would fail on the 2-point try.

Down by eight, Burrell needed a response, and it started from the kickoff. Coury returned the kickoff to the 45, which set up a seven-play touchdown drive. Perkins and Coury alternated who ran the Bucs down the field before the latter rushed in for his first touchdown of the night. Perkins would then drop back to pass for the 2-point conversion, finding Zach Coudriet, tying the score at 22-22.

Mack again pulled off some magic, extending plays. On a five-play scoring drive, he ran for two first downs and then rushed for a 15-yard touchdown to give East Allegheny a 28-22 lead.

But, Burrell had Perkins and Coury to turn to, and both marched down the field on run plays before Perkins broke a 42-yard run to tie the score again. Opting for caution, the Bucs kicked the field goal to take a one-point lead.

East Allegheny would be forced into a three-and-out on its next possession. Burrell seemed primed to put the game away, but a late goal-line stand by East Allegheny gave the Wildcats a chance to win. Mack would take his team from their 8 all the way to the 45-yard line before Perdue’s heroics.

Tags: Burrell, East Allegheny