Cheyenne honors fallen coach, grabs league win against Faith Lutheran

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 | 12:18 a.m.

The Cheyenne High football team put on a show Friday night — before and during its 39-28 victory against visiting Faith Lutheran.

The Desert Shields’ football stadium was renamed “George Perry Memorial Field” during a ceremony before the game. Perry, who was the school’s first coach when it opened in 1991, died in a car accident last spring on Interstate 15 while driving to California. His wife, Clara, was also killed in the accident.

Several former players attended the ceremony. Perry, 58, led Cheyenne to the large-school state title game in 1995.

“I’ve heard all types of good things about him and how he impacted kids,” Cheyenne coach David Cochran said. “He’s a really big deal around here. I’m definitely working in his shadow.”

The ceremony included changing the stadium name outside the facility and on the scoreboard. It was also the school’s homecoming.

Cheyenne (2-1, 1-1) used the momentum from the crowd to open the game with 24 unanswered points and never looked back.

Kenneth Counts had four touchdowns and Tyler Spight rushed for more than 200 yards.

“We ran the ball well. That is what we do,” Cochran said. “It’s not a secret.”

Faith Lutheran, which dropped its second Northwest Division game, made things interesting late by recovering a pair of onside kicks and quickly scoring touchdowns.

But on the third onside kick, Counts returned it for a touchdown.

Cheyenne will quickly turn its attention to a Thursday game against nemesis Palo Verde — one of the best rivalries in the Northwest.