LB Travis Perryman hoping to lead Lakewood football to CIF-SS playoffs

LAKEWOOD – Travis Perryman is the unquestioned person of the Lakewood shot team.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound elder linebacker is simply a hard-nosed, pugnacious player. For example, he’s virtually played the full play with a breached knuckle.

“If you truly privation it bad, you’ll bash thing for it,” said Perryman. “I privation it.”

Meet elder skipper LB Travis Perryman, who is presently playing with a breached knuckle. His coaches astatine Lakewood High accidental he’s the explanation of a pugnacious shot player, who has the endowment and volition to play Division 1 assemblage football. @TravisPerryman3 @LKWDFOOTBALL @JustinUtupo pic.twitter.com/y2SIS1ssI0

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 19, 2021

Perryman said starring the Lancers during the pandemic has taught him astir much than conscionable football. He’s learned beingness lessons.

“We’ve had up and downs this play but sunshine comes with rainy days,” Perryman said. “We conscionable support grinding arsenic a squad and we person to support moving successful signifier to get that playoff spot.”

Lakewood manager Justin Utupo played shot astatine Notre Dame. Utupo said Travis Perryman has what it takes to play Division 1 football. @JustinUtupo breaks down what makes @TravisPerryman3 an intriguing DI recruiting prospect. @LKWDFOOTBALL @BeachVarsity #LongBeachVarsityReport pic.twitter.com/t4qFWQQ66J

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 19, 2021

Lakewood manager Justin Utupo, who played assemblage shot astatine Notre Dame, believes Perryman decidedly has what it takes to beryllium a DI assemblage shot player.

“Travis is the person of our defense,” Utupo shared. “He leads by example. He’s retired determination flying astir with 1 hand, that nine is astir 5 pounds… helium plays sideline to sideline.

“I deliberation Travis is patiently waiting for that opportunity. His precocious schoolhouse vocation is going to beryllium implicit and he’s going to proceed to play astatine the adjacent level.”

Utupo said he’s gotten a batch of affirmative feedback from his assemblage connections, revealing that helium believes immoderate schools are adjacent to offering Perryman a scholarship.

“The squad that does get a Travis Perryman successful their locker country and successful their programme is going to payment from having idiosyncratic similar him due to the fact that of the vigor helium brings some connected and disconnected the field.”

Meanwhile, Perryman said he’s waiting for an opportunity. Hopefully, 1 adjacent to home.

“I would similar to get a grade and play assemblage football. That’s my dream,” Perryman continued. “San Diego State would beryllium beauteous cool… my parents could travel to ticker maine play.”

Lakewood elder linebacker Travis Perryman said his imagination to play assemblage football. His imagination schoolhouse is San Diego State. @TravisPerryman3 @LKWDFOOTBALL @BeachVarsity #LongBeachVarsityReport pic.twitter.com/ZDl1k0cWuD

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 19, 2021

Lakewood vs. Compton  

Lakewood (3-5, 3-1) volition play Compton (2-5, 1-3) astatine Compton College connected Friday astatine 7 p.m.

“This is simply a must-win game, playoff crippled for us,” Utupo said. “We recognize the value of this crippled and we’re excited for the situation that Compton brings.”

If Lakewood wins, it would unafraid 1 of the Moore League’s 3 automatic CIF Southern Section playoff spots.

Utupo, an alum of Lakewood, knows the value of finishing strong. He besides knows however important it is to marque the playoffs successful his archetypal play coaching his alma mater.

“It would mean everything to our seniors to proceed to play successful the postseason and marque a tally present due to the fact that this is going to beryllium a peculiar season,” Utupo said. “We told them that from the opening successful the summertime and I’m excited to spot however they decorativeness this (season) out.”

Lakewood manager Justin Utupo connected his team’s must-win crippled against Compton. If Lakewood wins, they volition unafraid an automatic spot successful the @CIFSS playoffs. @JustinUtupo @LKWDFOOTBALL @BeachVarsity #LongBeachVarsityReport pic.twitter.com/A0wFzYGDwK

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 19, 2021

“We person to instrumentality to our crippled plan, immoderate coaches springiness america to bash and bash our jobs,” Perryman added. “I’ve mislaid doubly to (Compton). I don’t privation to suffer again.

“We person to spell retired determination and combat and effort and get that playoff spot… It would mean everything for maine to triumph that game.”