PERKINS TWP. — Down to its third-string quarterback, Perkins continued to battle only to watch the game slide away.

Perkins looked to take the lead early in the third quarter, but they lost a fumble which led to 21 unanswered points by Tippecanoe and fell 34-6 in the Division III, Region 10 quarterfinal at Perkins High School Friday.

Perkins ends its season at 9-2, while Tippecanoe improves to 9-2.

“The kids battled,” Perkins Coach Gary Quisno said. “They knew they had to buckle it up in the second half. They came out and played hard. We just couldn’t get anything going in the first half. The fumble turned things around into their favor.”

Twice in the first half, Tippecanoe had the ball deep in Perkins territory, but came away with only two field goals. A big part of it was due to Perkins defense, which stymied Tippecanoe when they got into the red zone.

“We were a bit upset to come away with only field goals,” Tippacanoe Coach Charlie Burgbacher said. “Both of them should have been touchdown drives.”

Down 6-0 at the half, Perkins was confronted with another issue. Late in the first half, Tom Barnum suffered an ankle injury after he was sacked late in the first half. Perkins was forced to bring in Evan Laser, who was its third-string quarterback. Starting quarterback Spencer Bryant was injured last week.

“Evan has been playing quarterback all year,” Quisno said. “He was able to get his work in during the week.”

Much like last week when Perkins rallied behind Barnum, Perkins came out clicking on all cylinders.

Using all running plays, Perkins drove the ball down to Tippecanoe’s 13. On third-and-four, Perkins fumbled the ball with Tippacanoe’s Jake Budding picking it up. He returned it all the way to the Perkins 11. Three plays later, Cory Johnson scored from three yards out, giving Tippecanoe a 13-0 lead with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

Things snowballed for Perkins from there.

A turnover on downs by Perkins gave the ball back to Tippecanoe.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tippecanoe quarterback Ryan Landwehr hit Johnson on a well-devised screen pass from 26 yards out.

A blocked punt by Kyle Pignatiello set up another Landwehr to Johnson connection from eight yards out.

Perkins struck back, closing the gap down to 27-6 with Xavier Turner scoring from five yards out. Perkins went for the onside kick and recovered it.

Laser scrambled his way for a first down, but a holding call brought it back. The drive ended with Laser missing on a pass to turn it over on downs.

Johnson, who also caused the fumble to turn the momentum of the game in the third quarter, scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 20-yard run.

Perkins was unable to generate much offense in the first half, but it was due to Tippacanoe’s ball-control offense.

Outside of the its first field goal, which was set up by an 82-yard run by Kake Budding, Tippecanoe took time off the clock. They had drives of five and four minutes when they ended.

The first drive was ended when Perkins’ Tyson Moore recovered a fumble. They second one ended on a Pignatiello 30-yard field goal with 2:37 left in the half.

The best chance Perkins had to score in the first half was thwarted by Tippecanoe’s defense, who picked off a Tom Barnum pass at Tippecanoe’s five.

Hoping to get into scoring position before the half, Perkins quickly picked up a first down. On the next play, Barnum went down awkwardly for a sack. He was helped to his feet and limped off the field with an injury to his right ankle. He did not return to the game, leaving Perkins in Laser’s hands.

“The kids had a great year and I’m proud of them,” Quisno said. “Things may have gotten away from us in the end, but this game was closer than what the score indicated.”