MARQUIS PERRILLIAT (left) and St. Patrick-St. Vincent High teammate Chris Stinchcomb (right) sign letters of intent to play football for Linfield College in Oregon.

It was an emotional afternoon in the gymnasium foyer at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High last Friday when seniors Marquis Perrilliat and Chris Stinchcomb each signed letters of intent to play football for Linfield College after graduation.

A steady stream of teachers, coaches, teammates, classmates and friends gave speeches honoring two of the school’s best student-athletes. Athletic Director Lane Hawkins finally had to put a stop to the tributes so the two Bruins could get on with the business of signing their letters of intent.

“These are two very popular young men and it speaks to their character and personality,” Hawkins said of Perrilliat and Stinchcomb.

“We’ve all gone through so much together and it was a really emotional moment,” Stinchcomb said. “We’re like a family.”

Perrilliat and Stinchcomb have been like family throughout their athletic careers at SPSV. Both were All-TCAL First Team football selections last fall after anchoring the Bruin defense – Perrilliat as a defensive back and Stinchcomb as a middle linebacker. Perrilliat was one of the fastest players on the squad and added 1,131 of total offense. Stinchcomb was known as the team’s hardest hitter after collecting 109 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery.

They’ve also played soccer together, with Perrilliat being named the TCAL’s Defensive Player of the Year last winter while Stinchcomb was an Honorable Mention in 2014.

Linfield College – a small, Division III program in McMinnville, Ore., about 35 miles outside of Portland – was impressed when they first saw Perrilliat on film.

“They liked my versatility and my energy,” Perrilliat said of the Wildcats.

Stinchcomb wasn’t being recruited at all, so Perrilliat suggested he send an e-mail to the Wildcat coaching staff. When the ‘Cats learned there were two Bruins interested in playing for them, they pounced.

“The coach said that when he watched me on film, he could see the energy I was bringing to the defense,” Stinchcomb said. “They liked my leadership.”

“And me and Chris are both good character guys and that’s what they want in their program,” Perrilliat added. “Knowing Chris wanted to go there did affect my decision. I knew I’d have another really good friend there.”

Linfield is no slouch, going 11-2 overall last season while making it all the way to the Division III semifinals. The Wildcats will likely play Sinchcomb at linebacker, but he could be moved to the defensive line of he gains weight and muscle. Perrilliat faces a crowded field of defensive backs on the Linfield roster and may settle in as a wide receiver.

“I want to go in as a defensive back but the coaches say they may move me around a lot my freshman year,” Perrilliat said. “They have a lot of defensive backs but not a lot of receivers so I may try and compete for that.”

“They’re ready and can contribute right now,” Hawkins said. “They will represent us exceptionally well, both on the field and in the classroom.”

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