Santoro returning to Bellevue in Perkins gear

First-year Perkins coach Jalen Santoro is trying to downplay tonight's football game at Bellevue. Ed Nasonti, who is in his 30th season coaching the Redmen, is trying to do the same. They can say what they want, but it will feel different when the Pirates and Redmen take the field at First National Bank Field at Bellevue Athletic Facility for a Week 3 showdown. Santoro is a 2013 Bellevue High School graduate. He was the star quarterback of the Redmen team that reached the 2012 Division III state finals and was the D-III All-Ohio Co-Offensive Player of the Year. He also was an important part of the turnaround at Tiffin University as a wide receiver for coach Gary Goff. Santoro, 25, still lives in Bellevue and was a volunteer coach on Nasonti's staff the last two years before taking the Perkins job in February. He's also works an assistant coach on the Bellevue girls basketball staff led by his dad, Kory. "We have to take the emotions out and treat it as another game, but I am used to being at that stadium," Santoro said. "We had close bonds with some of the guys and now we're on the other sideline. "What Bellevue brings to the table and how they prepare as a coaching staff will be a big test for us." Santoro will be looking across the field at Nasonti, the unquestioned leader of the Redmen and the dean of Sandusky Bay Conference coaches. The outspoken coach was a star athlete at Bellevue — Nasonti was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2004 — and has built his program into a regional powerhouse, using hard work and loyalty as two of his cornerstones. When asked about coaching against Santoro, Nasonti opted for a measured answer. "As a staff we're just looking at it as another step in the season. We want our kids focused on blocking and tackling and getting better," he said. "Anything other than that is an energy sucker, and I'm not looking for that now." To be sure, Bellevue has a lot to play for as the regular season reaches its halfway point. Many pegged the Redmen as the SBC Lake Division favorites this season and Bellevue is off to a 2-0 start. The Redmen have allowed only 13 points in two road wins — 14-7 at Oak Harbor and 20-6 at Norwalk. The stingy defense is led by linebacker Mason Bova, who has 22 tackles and three quarterback sacks. Collin Corapi has 12 stops and two sacks. On offense, senior quarterback Keegan Ray has accounted for 390 of Bellevue's 488 total yards. "I think we're really close to getting where we want to be on offense," Nasonti said. "We left 14 points on the table (at Norwalk); it could've easily been 34." Perkins is 1-1 and coming off a 41-20 loss to Clyde in which it gave up five pass completions that covered 32 yards or more. "They took advantage of some of our youth in the secondary," Santoro said. "They'll get better as the year goes on. They're great athletes back there." The Pirates did hold up well against Clyde's physical run game, allowed just three yards per carry on 46 attempts. Perkins won 17-14 at Bellevue two years ago before losing 35-10 at home last year. Santoro is trying to make the Pirates a tough bunch, perhaps emulating his former team. Five of Santoro's assistants — Zach Coe, Luke Lyden, Evan Englehart, Trent Stamm and Brendon Wagner — all played or coached in some capacity at Bellevue. "You don't get to be a 25-year-old head coach often and coach with guys with the same views as you," Santoro said. "It's a dream come true. We have the same goals and expectations."