Why he’s got game: Perez led Maine South to its second straight Class 8A state title in spectacular fashion last Saturday night in Champaign, rushing 27 times for 316 yards and five touchdowns in the Hawks’ 41-17 win over Marist. His rushing TDs included jaunts of 76, 47 and 28 yards, and he also caught five passes for 50 yards. Perez’s rushing yardage and five scores on the ground are Class 8A title game records and came despite Perez sitting out practice last week with an assortment of minor injuries. The win was Maine South’s 28th in a row and earned the Hawks their fourth state title since 1995. Perez, who will play at Indiana, gained 2,246 yards on 208 carries this season.
Do you have a superstition, or pregame ritual? “I’ve worn the same pair of elbow pads in every game since seventh grade. Back then, I couldn’t find a pair with enough padding but these are big and bulky. I think it’s time to hang them up now. They’ve been through a lot. Our sewing teacher fixes them up every few weeks. There’s been some emergency damage control lately.”
Are you surprised at the success you’ve had? “From a team standpoint, no, not really. We always knew what we were capable of accomplishing. ... Next year’s seniors are already working toward next year. Individually, to be perfectly honest, I am surprised. I never set out to set any specific records or anything like that. After we won state last year, anything else would have been icing on the cake.”
Which athlete inspires you? “Walter Payton. ... He was quiet and he let his play do all the talking. But he played the game violently, which is the way it should be played.”
