Perry and Desert Vista's football teams had much in common as they played their 2021 season opener Thursday night at Perry High.

Both teams were 0-6 in last year's shortened 2020 campaign. Both entered with seven-game losing streaks dating back to postseason 2019. Desert Vista had one edge in that the Thunder's last win game in the second round of the 6A 2019 playoffs - a wild 70-63 victory over Perry. Perry, however, returned the favor in this one with 21 unanswered points in the second half for a 35-28 triumph at John Wrenn Stadium.

Their was much jubilation as Perry converted on third down with under a minute left to deny Desert Vista a final possession and chance to tie. 

"We're pretty happy," Perry coach Preston Jones said. "We didn't get a win last year and fought through the same things everyone else did. We took advantage of chances in the third quarter and made plays. We have 50 seniors who want to win, and I'm proud of all of them."

Perry's comeback began midway through the third period as the teams exchanged possessions. On fourth down in punt formation, a high snap couldn't be gathered in cleanly and Perry took over at the Desert Vista 23. Five plays later, Perry senior quarterback Gavin Reetz tossed an easy 7-yard scoring strike to wide open tight end Daniel Moncur. The extra point failed and the Pumas still trailed, 21-20.

But not for long. Desert Vista drove just past midfield only to fumble - the recovery made by Perry's Dane Kohl.

Perry took the lead for good five plays after Kohl's recovery with 1:10 left in the third quarter. Perry's other quarterback senior Colter Brown, who alternated series throughout with Reetz, tossed a 25-yard TD on a sideline route to wide out Jaxen Young. A two-point conversion put the Pumas ahead to stay, 28-21.

Perry built a comfort zone with 4:46 to play. The Pumas exchanged two possessions with the Thunder and a stop on fourth down gave Perry the ball at the DV 45. Brown was in on every play of this drive. He scored on a 5-yard run for a 35-21 advantage. The big play was a 37-yard run on a QB draw.

Desert Vista running back Devon Grubbs second TD (16-yard run) capped an 11-play drive with 2:20 to play making it 35-28. Perry needed one first down to salt away the victory after recovering Desert Vista's on-side kick attempt at midfield. Reetz made the play this time, converting a third-and-seven with a 12-yard completion to Moncur.

Desert Vista, playing its first game under new coach Ty Wisdom who left Horizon to man the reins for the Thunder, alternated touchdowns with Perry for a 21-14 halftime lead. Touchdown runs of five yards by Christian Clark, a 79-yard jaunt by Grubbs and a 28-yard scoring pass from quarterback Jackson Atkins to Mekhi Hibbler accounted for DV's first-half scores. Perry's TDs the first 24 minutes  - a 76-yard hookup from Brown to wide out Hunter Martinez and Reetz short TD run.

Brown passed for two TDs and ran for one. Reetz passed for one TD and rushed for another as the two-quarterback system operated efficiently for Jones and the Pumas.