Football Team of the Week Powered by H3 Athletix: Perry Meridian

The last time Perry Meridian finished with a winning record, George W. Bush was in his first term and the Indianapolis Colts were playing at the RCA Dome.

That was 2003 - a 7-5 season that remains the program's last winning campaign heading into 2026. Twenty-three years is a long time to wait.

First-year head coach Rob Patchett is making it feel closer than it has in decades. The Falcons beat Bloomington North 35-6 in Week 6 - a running-clock victory that wasn't close from the opening drive and moved Perry Meridian to 4-2 on the season.

According to the program, it is their best start since 2013. Three more wins makes it a winning season.

Three wins over the next six games ends the longest drought in recent Perry Meridian history. Who Is Making It Happen Carter Upshaw is the engine.

The running back rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns in Week 5 - a performance that earned him and teammate Alex Lane top performer nominations. Against Bloomington North in Week 6, he carried 24 times for 174 yards and three more touchdowns, adding two receptions for 24 yards.

Through six weeks, Upshaw has been the most consistent offensive weapon on the roster and the player opposing coordinators have to account for on every first-and-ten. Wes Clary provided the defensive highlight reel moment of Week 6 - a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown that punctuated a dominant defensive performance.

Linebacker Colin Sitzman added 7 tackles, 3 solo, a tackle for loss, an interception, and 2 pass deflections in the same game. The defense didn't just hold Bloomington North - they took the ball away and turned it into points.

The Context Patchett was hired in February 2026 to replace Brett Cooper, who left for Ben Davis. He arrived inheriting a program that went 2-8 in 2025 and hadn't sniffed a winning season in over two decades.