Salem beats Pulaski County 27-14, remains undefeated
Willis White Field, Spartan Stadium, Salem, VA – Crunch’s Roanoke game of the week featured the Salem Spartans hosting the Pulaski Cougars in a game of two 4A powers. Salem’s Zavione Wood started the game on fire as he propelled the Spartans to an early 13-0 lead, running for 116 yards and 2 TDs on his first 3 carries of the game. Pulaski had more total offense than Salem (350 yards to the Spartans’ 272 yards) but on this night Salem had the big play capability that the Cougars were not able to match. This was displayed late in the 2nd quarter when Pulaski scored with 3:56 left in the half to close the gap to 13-7. Salem responded on the very next play from scrimmage 
with a 56-yard TD pass from QB 10 DaRon Wilson to WR 2 Shawn Collins and just like that Salem took a 20-7 lead into the half. Both teams would add another score to make the final a 27-14 win for the Spartans. After the game, Salem’s Coach Don Holter commented on his team’s undefeated season and the upcoming playoffs, “I’m proud of my young men, but there’s so much more work to do…Four games left, win or go home.”
1st Qtr: After an opening 3-and-out drive by the Cougars, the Spartans took over on their own 39 yard line. Two plays later, RB 42 Zavione Wood (17-149, 2 TD) scampered 35 yards for the TD and K 20 Wes Cross’ PAT was good for a 7-0 Salem lead.
Salem’s Zavione Wood finds the end zone after a 35-yard run
Pulaski picked up 1 first down but their next drive stalled at midfield and they punted. Salem’s RB 42 Wood got the hand off on the first play of the next possession and broke multiple tackles for a 78 yard gain down to the Pulaski five.
Spartan RB 42 Wood breaks through the line in route to a 78-yard gain
Two plays later he finished the deal when he found the end zone from 3 yards out. The exchange was bad on the extra point and Salem held a 13-0 lead with 6 minutes left in the 1st quarter.
2nd Qtr: The Cougars drove 67 yards to the Spartan 20 on their next possession highlighted by a 50 yard, 3rd down conversion pass from QB 5 Drew Dalton (17/31-205) to RB 23 Quemar Porter (1-42 rush, TD, 5-116 yds rec), but had to settle for a 37 yard FG attempt that just missed.
Pulaski’s WR/RB/DB 23 Quemar Porter picks up 50-yards on a third down conversion
Pulaski’s defense could get the Pats to third down, but couldn’t get off the field. Credit PH quarterback 3 Roy Gunn. All four ‘pick ups’ were Gunn completions to three different receivers. PH used the “WR- tunnel screen pass” to WR 14 Carmello Taylor again and again, when they needed to move the chains.
After a Salem punt, Pulaski took over on their 45 and quickly got on the board when RB 3 Ethan Gallimore (20-97, TD) ran 15 yards for the score. K 19 Broc Simpson added the PAT and it was 13-7 Spartans with 3:56 left in the half.
Cougar RB/LB 3 Ethan Gallimore scores from 15 yards out to tighten the score
As is vintage Salem football though, it only took the Spartans 16 seconds to respond when QB 10 DaRon Wilson (6-14 yds rush, 3/6-73 yds pass, TD, INT) hit WR 2 Shawn Collins for a 56 yard TD strike. K 20 Cross added the PAT and Salem pushed their lead back to 13.
Spartan WR/DB 2 Shawn Collins catches a 56-yard TD pass from QB 10 DaRon Wilson
Pulaski then took the kickoff and drove into field goal range, but with 17 seconds left in the half, K 19 Simpson had his 37 yard FG attempt blocked and the score remained 20-7 Salem.
Salem blocks Pulaski County Kicker Broc Simpson’s 37-yard field goal attempt to end the half
2nd Half: Both teams traded possession in a scoreless 3rd quarter but Salem’s RB/DL 28 Cam Leftwich capped a 56 yard drive on the first play of the 4th quarter with a 1-yard TD plunge. K 20 Cross made the extra point and Salem was up 27-7.
Salem FB/LB 28 Cam Leftwich plows in for a 1-yard TD
Pulaski turned the ball over on downs on their next two possessions while Salem threw an interception and had to punt on theirs, the last of which pinned Pulaski down at their 1 yard line. The Cougars drove 99 yards for the TD when RB 23 Porter took his only rushing carry on the night 42 yards to the house.
Pulaski RB/DB 23 Quemar Porter breaks free for a 42-yard score
Offense:
Rushing– Pulaski Co – Ethan Gallimore 20-97, TD, Drew Dalton 8-(-10), Keyonte Kennedy 3-12, Quemar Porter 1-42, TD, Broc Simpson 1-5 Salem – Zavione Wood 17-149, 2TD, Cam Leftwich 14-36, DaRon Wilson 6-14
Passing– Pulaski Co– Dalton 17/31-205 Salem – Wilson 3/6-73, TD, INT
Receiving– Pulaski Co– Jacob Johnson 6-36, Quemar Porter 5-116, Ethan Gallimore 3-11, John Lyman 3-42 Salem – Shawn Collins 2-62, Chauncey Logan Jr. 1-11.
Punting– Pulaski Co– Broc Simpson 3-17.6 Salem – Chauncey Logan Jr. 5-34.4
Scoring:
• Salem: Wood 35-yard TD run; Cross PAT good
• Salem: Wood 3-yard TD run; Logan Jr. tackled on PAT
• Pulaski Co: Gallimore 15-yd TD run; Simpson PAT good
• Salem: Collins 56-yd TD pass from Wilson; Cross PAT good
• Salem: Leftwich 1-yd TD run; Cross PAT good
• Pulaski Co: Porter 42-yd TD run; Simpson PAT good
