By Kareem Copeland, Clarion LedgerTHE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State vs. Grambling State
When: Saturday, noon
TV: ESPN Classic
The Jackson State football staff nearly went recruiting for another kicker after last season.
Eric Perri was good as a freshman, connecting on 6 of 8 field goals. He had a strong leg, tying a school record that had stood since 1975 with a 45-yarer against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Miami native had the nerves, burying a 22-yarder to beat Southern University 31-28 in double overtime.
But he was erratic.
"We didn't know how good he would be," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "He was kind of inconsistent that first year. We thought we might have to go out and find another guy because we didn't know if he would last."
The Tigers are no longer looking for another kicker.
Perri is one field goal from tying Eric Dozier (1983) and Adam Harris (1996) for the single-season school record (12). The sophomore is likely to cruise past that mark when Grambling State comes to town Saturday for a noon kickoff. He has gone 3-for-3 in three consecutive games and is 11-for-13 on the season, ranking No. 1 in the SWAC amongst kickers with eight or more attempts.
Perri leads the league in points (50), field goals made (11) and attempts (13). He is on track to shatter the JSU career record (29) set by Brian Reynolds.
"I never did imagine that," said James Hartfield, JSU's kicking coach. "I saw him on film and knew he was a good kicker. But I never imagined him doing what he's doing now."
Perri's progression from Year No. 1 to Year No. 2 has mostly taken place between the ears.
There was a lot repetition and technique work, but the mental hurdle was the largest.
"I've gotten him to just calm down," Hartfield said. "He gets upset in practice if he misses a field goal or misses an extra point.
"It was a mental thing. Last year we got a few of them blocked and he started looking up at the linemen instead of watching the ball and seeing where he was going. We've got him to trust his offensive linemen. If it gets blocked, it's not his fault; it's the linemen's fault."
Perri added, "I wanted it more. I've only got two years after this. I want to make (the most out of it). Be the best kicker I could."
The league's No. 1 kicker has added another dimension to offensive coordinator James Woody's weaponry.
The Jackson State offense ranks No. 3 in the conference in red zone offense, scoring on 22 of 27 trips (81.5 percent). Nine of those were field goals.
"It's a luxury situation," Woody said. "It does change the play-calling depending on the situation of the game. You would like to have that touchdown, but a lot of times you've got a great kicker and you really try to pound that clock and you can be conservative knowing you've got three solid points."
But there's a dangerous side to a life of luxury - complacency.
"It can make you relax and not push as hard on third down to get that crucial first down because you've got Eric in the corner," Comegy said. "We don't want to go there. But it's good to have a guy there who can really nail it when you need it."
Woody added, "I tell the quarterbacks, you don't want to try to force it ... and risk throwing an interception when you've got a kicker that can get you three points. (But) you don't want to get comfortable."
The situation makes no difference to Perri. He possesses a strong sense of self-motivation.
He has dedicated the season to his grandfather, William Perri, who died just before Perri returned for August football camp.
He just wants to win and fulfill a few personal goals along the way.
"Coming into the season I just wanted to do my job, basically try to improve on what I did last year," Perri said. "I wasn't really trying to break a record. I try to bail the guys out. Just in case they don't come out with seven, I come out with three.
"I want to be an All-American and have big dreams. If God puts me in the NFL that'd be great. That's what I'm working towards and hopefully get a championship ring here."
That and to keep Comegy from having to scour the nation for a kicker for another couple years.
Photo: Jackson State University J-Settes member is ready for a high kick.
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