PREP EXTRA : Ram Move Might Hurt Mater Dei

About the time Mater Dei’s Rod Perry Jr. was sailing past a bewildered group of Servite defenders Friday night, it became clear what Baltimore city officials were working on.

They don’t want the Rams. They want to underwrite high school football in their city.

Sure, by taking the Rams, they have to endure mediocre, losing football. But, in exchange, they get Perry, a natural born thriller.

As the son of Ram assistant coach Rod Perry, he would change coasts. That would have to be part of the deal.

OK, Georgia, you get tax incentives, a new stadium, and a key to the city--not to mention one to the vault. We, as the residents of Baltimore, get an exciting player to watch, even if he is only 15.

They’ll fill the new Camden Yards football stadium--for the city high school championship.

The kid plays basketball and baseball with equal skill. More revenue. There’s also an 8-year-old brother, Ryan, to consider and a sister on the way. This could be the greatest thing to hit Baltimore since Francis Scott Key. Better even. People have no trouble singing Perry’s praise.

“I was just glad that the Rams had to honor their lease for another year,” Mater Dei quarterback John Flynn said.

Of course, Flynn is a senior. He’ll be gone come the fall of 1995. Others, more permanent fixtures around Mater Dei, are a tad more concerned.

No sophomore in Orange County has more skill on the football field than Perry. He showed that Friday.

He caught four passes for 92 yards in a 55-14 rout. One was a 40-yard touchdown reception, where he glided past a couple nailed-to-the-ground Servite defenders. He also ran a reverse 20 yards for a touchdown. Again, he appeared to be the only one moving at full speed.

Sure, Perry was nervous before the game. But upcoming Monarch opponents probably were quivering afterward.

Perry gained 135 all-purpose yards, a slow night for a guy who averaged four touchdowns a game on the freshman team last season.

Perry’s first high school play was a clue. Playing quarterback, he went to hand off to the fullback but found no fullback there. Oh well. Perry just kept the ball and went around end for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Imagine how pleased Monarch coaches must have been. Perry said he didn’t even think about attending Mater Dei until a month before school began. His family had only arrived from Seattle three years ago, when Rod Sr. followed Ram Coach Chuck Knox south.

Once again, Mater Dei caught a break. But Monarch opponents didn’t, not as last season wore on. Perry played quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back--scoring at least one touchdown at each position.

Certainly some Baltimore high school could use that? Monarch Coach Bruce Rollinson certainly can.

Rollinson will plead that the kid is only a sophomore but also drool over his abilities. You can’t blame him. It’s hard to keep up the he-needs-a-little-more-experience act. Not the way people are talking. Like a fish story, Perry’s catches keep getting bigger.

“He tipped the ball over the defensive back’s head with one hand, then caught it with the other hand.”

Yeah, things look bright for Perry and even brighter for Mater Dei, as long as he sticks around.

Still, maybe something can be worked out. Maybe this is the best chance for keeping the Rams in Anaheim.

There’s a lot of clout in that Mater Dei family, after all. And with that football budget, maybe they can underwrite the Rams.

If not, there’s always Plan B.

Said Rollinson: “I may adopt a son.”