Scholarship Program

Squeezing in some football while becoming a Perra-medic

By Tim Switzer, The Leader-PostOctober 5, 2009

Becoming one of the top defensive players in the Prairie Football Conference after a year away from the sport didn't seem the likely outcome for Regina Thunder linebacker Landon Perra.

But shaking off the rust was only half the story of Perra's return to the PFC.

Throughout the football season, Perra was also completing his practicum for his paramedic course at SIAST. The field work meant Perra working six tours (comprising five 12-hour day or night shifts) on ambulances in Regina and Weyburn.

There were days when Perra would miss Thunder practices entirely or he would be late or he would be there for meetings before having to rush off to work.

There were even days when he would work until 6 a.m., go home to sleep for a few hours and then drive to Mosaic Stadium to join his teammates for a game before returning home to sleep and get ready for his next night shift.

"It actually wasn't that bad, believe it or not," said Perra, a Miller High School graduate. "Missing practices? Who honestly doesn't like to miss a couple practices here and there? The team took it in stride and took it well because they knew I had to do what I had to do. I think my play on the football field made the statement: I'm here to play and I want to win this team a championship."

Perra is doing all he can to make that happen. He finished third in the regular season with 106.5 defensive points -- including 37 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 11/2 sacks.

All that, and Perra didn't even begin the season as one of Regina's starters. Perra started off in a rotation with fellow linebackers Tyler Hogan, Travis Junior and Philmon Bairu, although Perra was the only one of the group playing all three positions.

"As he started to play, we couldn't keep him off the field anymore," said Thunder head coach Erwin Klempner.

This is actually Perra's second stint with the Thunder, having played for the team in 2005 before spending the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. After a year away from football to work and backpack across Canada, he could not stay away any longer.

"I just missed it," said Perra, 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds. "Watching football games on TV and whatnot, I missed hitting people in the mouth. That's just how it is."

Perra admits that his original plan would have seen him join the Thunder's provincial rivals, the Saskatoon Hilltops, but it made financial sense to stay at home in Regina. Now Perra is glad he did. The Thunder recorded its second-best regular season with a 5-3 record and will meet the Hilltops in a PFC semifinal Sunday in Saskatoon (1 p.m., Gordie Howe Bowl).

"I'm pretty damned excited," said Perra. "It's our first wining record since 2002. It's damn exciting especially because we play the Hilltops with that rivalry in the first game. Whoever wins that game could win it all."

When the adrenaline starts pumping before Sunday's playoff contest, it will be a feeling with which Perra has become very familiar.

"Sitting in a car with lights and sirens, there's so much excitement," said Perra. "It's almost as exciting as before a game. I start shaking. It's intense."

Perra has not yet decided which route he wishes to take -- he is considering being a paramedic and also plans to enrol in firefighting school next year -- but he has always known this was the route he would take.

"When I was a little kid, whenever I saw a fire truck I'd just ... lose my mind," he said laughing.

Whatever career Perra decides upon, it won't surprise Klempner to see him succeed.

"He's a special player," said Klempner. "I knew he was good. I really hadn't seen him play in high school, but I heard many things about him and how good he was. Until I actually saw him play first-hand, I didn't know. He's better than I thought and it's amazing what he's been able to do."