Fri, Oct 19, 2018
07:00 PM @
Salem
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Final |
| Spaulding |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Salem |
14 |
26 |
7 |
7 |
54 |
Salem, Spaulding
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Friday, October, 19
By Jeff Hamrick
Correspondent
SALEM – A week after knocking off the defending state champ to put itself in control of its playoff destiny, Salem remained squarely in the Division 1 postseason hunt with a dominating 54-0 victory over Spaulding.
The victory moved the Blue Devils (3-2 in the South, 6-2 overall) into second-place in the South, half a game ahead of Pinkerton (2-2, 6-2), which lost to Salem last month.
“If we win next week (against 4-4 Dover), we’re in,” Salem coach Rob Pike said. “The kids know that any week anything can happen. We got a few lucky breaks tonight, and we executed. The kids prepared all week like they knew it was going to be a game. And they came out and did well.”
After building a 40-0 halftime lead, the only remaining question Friday night was whether Zachary Gibbons and his right leg would get a school record. After missing a couple extra-point chances in the first half, the senior kicker connected on his fifth of the night and the 102nd of his career late in the third quarter. That kick eclipsed the previous mark set by Chris Saulnier, who finished his high-school career in 2009 – the last time the Blue Devils won a state title.
“I was pretty mad at myself for missing those (in the first half) because prior to that I’d only missed two all season,” said Gibbons, who also had one of Salem’s five fumble recoveries. “One was a muffed snap and the other one was blocked, so I think the nerves got to me. It feels great to have (the record). It’s a lot of pressure off my shoulders, and it felt good.”
Salem gave Gibbons plenty of chances, scoring eight touchdowns against a winless Spaulding squad that has won only 45 games in the past 21 years, according to its longtime statistician.
“There’s a lot that goes into that (extra-point) operation with the snap and the hold,” Pike said. “Everything has to be perfect … (Gibbons) has been great his whole career and he’s been consistent.”
The Blue Devils scored five times on the ground with runs by Riley Mulvey (17 yards), Daniel Johnston (6), Brandon Wall (25), Aidan McDonald (1) and Jackson Burns (23). Only one of Salem’s seven scoring drives lasted more than four plays or 75 seconds.
Linebacker Connor Chute scored his first career touchdown with a 38-yard fumble return that provided a 33-0 lead with 5:25 left in the first half.
Kyle Poulin, who attempted only three passes, threw a pair of touchdown passes of 33 yards to Michael Ference and 75 yards to Mulvey en route to a season-high 108 yards. Poulin now has seven scoring tosses against only one interception.
“Really, all year, Kyle has been doing well for us,” Pike said. “He executes well and does an excellent job for us. And we have guys who can go get it like Michael Ference, Alex Weston and Donovan Abraham, so we will need that (in the postseason) probably.”
Game Statistics:
First Quarter
Salem – Michael Ference 33 pass from Kyle Poulin (Zachary Gibbons kick) 9:57
Salem – Riley Mulvey 17 run (Gibbons kick) 3:49
Second Quarter
Salem – Daniel Johnston 6 run (kick failed) 8:01
Salem – Brandon Wall 25 run (Gibbons kick) 6:16
Salem – Connor Chute 38 fumble return (kick failed) 5:25
Salem – Riley Mulvey 75 pass from Kyle Poulin (Gibbons kick) 2:01
Third Quarter
Salem – Aidan McDonald 1 run (Gibbons kick) 0:43
Fourth Quarter
Salem – Jackson Burns 23 run (Gibbons kick) 8:08
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SPAULDING (42-155) – Noah McCann 12-66, George Jiminez 2-25, Jacob King 6-21, Jaric Levesque 12-19, Ryan Lane 3-12, Tyler Stevens 2-10, Kealian Craig 4-5, Max Frost 1-(-3); SALEM (35-263) – Brandon Wall 5-76, Will Michaud 6-58, Daniel Johnston 4-47, Jackson Burns 6-38, Riley Mulvey 3-21, Jadakis Washington 4-12, Aidan McDonald 2-9, Noah Poulin 3-9, Colin Jackson 1-4, Kyle Poulin 1-(-11)
Passing: SPAULDING – McCann 3-8-0, 23 yards; SALEM – Kyle Poulin 2-3-0, 108
Receiving: SPAULDING – Dylan Brooks 1-14, King 1-6, Lane 1-3; SALEM – Mulvey 1-75, Michael Ference 1-33
