The Perry football team has plenty of offensive weaponry to give the opposition concern. Everyone knew that coming into the season. Now the teams on the Pirates’ schedule have someone else to worry about — sophomore running back Carter Hopkins. Through six games, Hopkins has emerged as the team’s leading rusher with 49 carries for 360 yards. He didn’t come onto the scene until the past few weeks, but has turned into a dangerous threat in the Perry run game. Couple Hopkins’ running with the passing of Walter Moses (1,007 yards, 12 touchdowns) and the field-stretching receiving of Luke Sivon (25 receptions, 491 yards), and the Pirates’ offense has become that much more difficult to defend. “He’s been given an opportunity, and he’s capitalized,” Coach Bob Gecewich said. “The funny thing is, I don’t know how good he is or how good he can be. He runs hard. He doesn’t think about it — he just goes and there and plays.” In the Pirates’ 41-14 win over Lutheran West on Sept. 27, Hopkins had a 57-yard touchdown run, as well as a 34-yard touchdown reception from Moses. He had a pair of touchdown runs in a Week 5 win over Geneva. Perry opened the season with Dare’on Howard and Owen McKoon serving as the primary ball-carriers. But Howard and McKoon are starting linebackers on the defensive side of the ball, so wear and tear comes into play. That’s where Hopkins has paid a big dividend. With Hopkins shouldering a good chunk of the running game, Howard and McKoon can primarily focus on defense. Gecewich said Hopkins’ emergence, as well as sophomore Greg Mechenbier’s emergence at slot receiver, has helped the Pirates’ depth immensely. “It’s huge to have a guy like Carter who can spell either (McKoon and Howard),” he said. “He can take major reps so those guys can are more fresh on defense. Defense is such an integral part of what we do, to have guys be fresh is important. To have a guy like Carter step up and take reps is massive. … Carter makes us better on both sides of the ball. “We’re trying to develop that depth at receiver, too, and Mechenbier has stepped up. Greg can spell guys, too. We’re starting to get younger guys in to give Brody Petruccelli and Jimmy Ashburn a break.” Perry (5-1) hosts Orange (5-1) in CVC Chagrin Division game Oct. 4.