The Perry Bluejay football season came to a close with an 0-9 record, but one area of the team showed steady effort and growth throughout the fall — special teams.  Often the most overlooked phase of the game, the Bluejays’ special teams unit featured a true hands-on approach that saw several players step into meaningful roles.

A total of ten different players returned kicks for Perry this year, showcasing the team’s depth and willingness to give young athletes valuable experience.  Philip Gray proved to be the spark plug of the group, racking up 310 return yards and even finding the end zone for one of Perry’s highlight moments of the season.

The Bluejays were also perfect on extra point attempts, connecting on all nine tries.  Three different kickers contributed to that success, with Jonatan Gomez leading the charge by converting five PATs.

When it came to the punting game, consistency was key.  Michael Bahtagic handled nearly all of the duties, punting 36 times for 1,219 yards.  His efforts helped the defense by flipping the field and keeping opponents from gaining easy field position.

While the final record doesn’t show in the win column, Perry’s young roster gained valuable experience across the board — especially on special teams.  Those reps and lessons could prove vital as the Bluejays look to turn the corner and build momentum heading into next season.