Jackson Adlhoch is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Perry High School for AZPreps365.com.

The 6A playoffs' sixth seed Perry will play against perennial powerhouse No. 3 Saguaro this Friday. 

Both teams have had a good year, but treaded dramatically different paths up to it.   

This is the Pumas' second year under head coach Joseph Ortiz, who's revived the program to a 7-3 record after going 4-7 last year, and missed the past three postseasons. 

The Sabercats were 5-5 entering this postseason after being in the past two Open Division championships, and won the title in 2021. Saguaro moved up to 5A then 6A two years ago after dominating 4A over the last decade.

The Pumas have a storied football program,  started off last week slow against Mountain Pointe, going down 21-14 at halftime. But Perry fought back and prevailed, 30-27.

“They came into halftime and knew that we needed to change some things and change our effort and the way we were flying to the football, and we’re just going to continue with that mindset moving into this week,” said Perry’s defensive coordinator Justin Clare.

After halftime, the Pumas gave up just six second-half points.

While the stakes are high going into this anticipated Perry Saguaro matchup, the Pumas seem comfortable with what they need to do to be successful.

“Got to come out with the same energy in the second half," said junior linebacker Nate Lauritzen. "If we come out with that second half energy to start off I think we will be fine."

Perry’s offense has been stellar all year long, but the Pumas heavily rely on their vaunted defense. 

Perry has not won a game this season where they have given up more than 30 points, which doesn’t happen often. 

“It’s a defense that loves to go play defense,” said Perry’s linebacker coach Tyler French. “We don’t like sitting on the sidelines, we want to be out there, we want to go and compete.” 

Each playoff round gets more intense and tougher than the previous one. But the early round matchups like this could be the start of a rivalry for years to come. 

“Obviously each week of the playoffs that you keep moving forward the intensity ramps up and there is all of the different distractions that come with it so we just need to focus on us,” Clare said. 

While Perry’s coaches have been preaching to their players to focus on themselves and just block out all of the white noise from fans and the media. The players seem to be fired up by the game reaching a fever pitch.  

“Going out playing a big-name team, so they say, gives us that drive to knock them off the board,” said senior linebacker Gage Hatch. 

Hatch has been Perry’s defensive leader and top tackler all season. So seeing that type of energy from him is just stoking the flame leading up to this matchup.