Salem runs away from Pulaski County 55-6 through the air
Kenneth J.Dobson Stadium, Joel Hicks Field, Pulaski, VA – The Salem Spartans and the Pulaski Cougars renewed a storied rivalry Friday night at Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium in Pulaski. On the way into the game, the Crunch team had the privilege of talking with the man whom the field was named after – Coach Joel Hicks, as he and his wife there to cheer on the Cougars. Pulaski’s current Coach, Mark Dixon, had a tall order in store for him, playing without a few key starters who were out due to injury. 
The Spartans kicked off a scoring flurry late in the first quarter in which the teams scored 3 touchdowns in 30 seconds and it looked like it was going to be a wild, high-scoring affair. However, after they gave up the one long Pulaski TD run, the Spartan defense stepped up in a big way and pitched a shutout the rest of the evening. It was not just the defense that flexed its
muscles, but
rather the whole Salem team as they clicked on all cylinders in every facet of the game.
Salem’s Coach Don Holter said
“it was the first time all year we played Salem football for four quarters”. When asked about Pulaski’s defense containing their rushing game early, but later finding success, Holter commented, “we are who we are and we ain’t who we ain’t. We are going to find a way to run the football”. That they did, led by FB/LB 28 Cam Leftwich who ran for 99 yards and scored 4 of the 5 Spartan rushing touchdowns. Salem improves to 4-1 on the season. Pulaski stands at 3-3.
First Quarter – Both teams picked up a first down on their opening drives but ultimately had to punt the ball away. Pulaski’s defense, led by hard hitting LB 6 Tyler Underwood, was effective clogging up the rushing
Pulaski’s LB 6 Tyler Underwood and DL 52 Jack Johnson stuff the run
lanes but that’s when Salem QB 10 DaRon Wilson (7/12-194, 2 TD pass) went to the air and connected with WR/DB 11 Chauncey Logan Jr. for 46 yards down to the Pulaski 11.
Salem WR 11 Chauncey Logan Jr. hauls in 46 yard strike from QB 10 DaRon Wilson
Three plays later QB 10 Wilson hit TE/DL 14 Jake Massey (4-101, 2 TDs rec) for an 8-yard score and kicker 20 Wesley Cross’s PAT gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead. It only took Pulaski 10 seconds to answer when WR/S 4 John Lyman took the handoff on the first play from scrimmage and dashed 65 yards for the score.
RB 4 John Lyman outruns Salem defender DB 8 Chase Greer on his way to a 65-yard touchdown
The PAT was no good, and Salem held a 7-6 lead. Not to be outdone, Spartan FB/LB 28 Leftwich returned the favor and plowed through the line and sprinted to the end zone for a 54 yard TD run.
K 20 Cross added the PAT and just like that, the score was 14-6 with both teams exhibiting big play potential.
Second Quarter – Spartan FB/LB 28 Leftwich scored from 2-yards out on the first play of the 2nd quarter to cap a four play drive that was highlighted by a 49-yard reception by TE/DL 14 Massey as his monster night continued. The extra point by 20 Cross was good and the Salem lead was extended to 21-6. It was at this point in the game that the Spartan defense took over. They only gave up one first down the rest of the game and they forced 6 punts and a fumble.
Salem LB 14 Jake Massey works to recover Pulaski fumble
Meanwhile the offense did their part and kept their foot on the gas. After K 20 Cross nailed a 28 yard field goal and both TE/DL 14 Massey (30 yard TD reception) and FB/LB Leftwich (5-yard run) scored again and the Spartans had put 24 points on the board in the period and took a 38-6 lead at the half.
Third Quarter – The third quarter started off promising for the Cougars when QB 14 Chris Gallimore found WR/S 5 JJ Gulley open for a 23 yard gain, but a chop block penalty stalled the drive and Pulaski had to punt. Salem went to work chewing up the clock and put together a 12-play, 6-minute drive with a heavy dose of runs from RB 21 Jayveon Jones and FB 28 Leftwich, the last of which was a 5 yard run by Leftwich for his 4th TD on the night. K 20 Cross connected on his 6th PAT and the score after three periods was 45-6.
Spartan RB 21 Jayveon Jones fights for yards against Pulaski defense
Spartan RB 32 Isaiah Barlow scampers for a 50 yard gain
Fourth Quarter – Spartan WR/DB 8 Chase Greer’s 46 yard punt return to the Pulaski 17 yard line at the end of the 3rd quarter set up K 20 Cross’s 2nd FG attempt from 27 yards out early in the 4th. The kick was good and Salem led 48-6. After a 3-and-out by the Cougars, Spartan RB/DL 32 Isaiah Barlow broke free for a 50 yard run and scored two play later from the 5-yard line. K 20 Cross made the PAT and the final was Salem 55-6 over the Cougars. – Mike ‘The Machine’ Dermott
Offense: Rushing– Pulaski County– Trevor Burton 14-54, Chris Gallimore 5-(-22), Fum, John Lyman 2-66, TD, Keyontae Kennedy 1-1 Salem – Jayveon Jones 11-37, DaRon Wilson 2-2, Cam Leftwich 19-99, 4 TD, Jamien Lingenfelter 1-4, Isaiah Barlow 6-59, TD, #36 1-0 Passing– Pulaski County– Chris Gallimore 5/13-36 Salem – DaRon Wilson 7/12-194, 2 TD, Chauncey Logan Jr. 1/1-15 Receiving– Pulaski County– John Lyman 2-7, Tyler Underwood 2-6, JJ Gulley 1-23 Salem – Chauncey Logan Jr. 2-82, Chase Greer 1-6, Jake Massey 4-101, 2 TD, Cam Leftwich 1-5, Jamien Lingenfelter 1-15 Punting– Pulaski County– Nathan Pratt 7-33.0 avg. Salem – Chauncey Logan Jr. 1-32 Kicking – Pulaski County – Nathan Pratt, PAT 0/1, 0/0 FG Salem – Wesley Cross, PAT 7/7, FG 2/2, 28 yd, 27 yd
Scoring:
First Quarter
Salem : J.Massey 8-yd pass from Wilson; Cross PAT (3:47)
Pulaski County: Lyman 65-yd run; PAT missed (3:37)
Salem: Leftwich 54-yd run; Cross PAT (3:17)
Second Quarter
Salem: Leftwich 2-yd run; Cross PAT (11:56)
Salem: Cross 28-yd FG (8:09)
Salem: J.Massey 30-yd pass from Wilson; Cross PAT (5:19)
Salem: Leftwich 5-yd run; Cross PAT (1:41)
Third Quarter
Salem: Leftwich 5-yd run; Cross PAT (4:19)
Fourth Quarter
Salem: Cross 27-yd FG (11:55)
Salem: Barlow 5-yd run; Cross PAT (6:50)