Salem breaks open a tight game with Patrick Henry in fourth quarter to pull away 37-13
Spartans Stadium, Salem, VA – Salem, Virginia – Willis White Field at Salem Stadium was the place to be Friday for a big River Ridge match up between the host Salem Spartans and the visiting Patrick Henry Patriots. Crunch was there for this week’s Bonus Coverage and took in all the festivities. It was senior night for the Spartans as they honored their football, cheerleading and band members, pre-game and at halftime. 
The Patriots were looking to play the spoiler though, and you got the impression as you watched their first drive that they were going to pull out all of the stops.
First Quarter – Salem won the coin toss and deferred their decision until the second half and Patrick Henry started their first possession on their own 36 yard line. Patriot sophomore phenome, RB/LB 5 Chuck Webb quickly asserted himself when he caught a short pass and scampered 40 yards on the second play of the drive. Three plays later, PH used a bit of trickery as QB 12 Joey Beasley threw a quick out to WR/DB 7 Jahzae Kimbrough, who then lateraled the ball to RB/LB 5 Webb and he took it to the end zone from 22 yards out. Freshman K 29 Sam Dowdy added the PAT, and the Patriots were up 7-0 early. Salem responded with a 13 play drive that chewed up over 7 minutes of the clock, but turned the ball over on downs when PH’s 7 Kimbrough showed he could get it done on the defensive side of the ball too when he sacked Spartan QB 10 DaRon Wilson on the Patriot 20 yard line to turn back the Salem threat.
Patrick Henry RB/LB 5 Chuck Webb scores the games first touchdown
Second Quarter – The Spartans tied the game at the 7:52 mark of the 2nd period on a drive that featured the running of RB/LB 21 Jayveon Jones (19-80) and RB/DL 28 Cam Leftwich (30-146, 3 TD). Leftwich scored on a 2-yd plunge and K/C 57 Caleb Wright made the PAT to knot the score. After a Spartan interception on PH’s next series, Salem moved the ball to the Patriot 20 looking to score right before the half. K/C 57 Wright’s 37-yard FG attempt missed left and the teams went to the locker room tied 7-7.
Salem answers with a short TD run by FB 28 Cam Leftwich
Spartan TE/LB 14 Jake Massey makes a big 4th down catch to keep the drive alive
Third Quarter – Salem came out of the intermission and got an immediate spark when WR/SS 8 Chase Greer returned the kickoff 27 yards to midfield. The Spartan offense moved to the PH 23 where they faced a 4th and 6 when DE/TE 14 Jake Massey caught a 10 yard pass from QB 10 Wilson to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, RB/DL 28 Leftwich picked up his second TD on a 4-yard run and K/C 57 Wright hit the PAT for a 14-7 Salem lead. The Patriots only had the ball for 4 plays in the 3rd quarter, but they made the most of them. WR/DB 2 Carmelo Taylor returned the kickoff 22 yards to the Patriot 40 yard line and after RB/LB 5 Webb carried the ball twice, QB 12 Joey Beasley unleashed a pass down the middle of the field that was hauled in by WR/DB 7 Kimbrough for the 57-yard touchdown catch. The extra point was blocked and Salem led 14-13 going into the 4th quarter.
Fourth Quarter – What had been a close game for 3 quarters suddenly changed in the 4th. Salem’s WR/DB 11 Chauncey Logan Jr. caught a 20-yard touchdown reception from QB 10 Wilson on the second play of the period, and then the Patriots game them the ball right back when they fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. The Spartans converted the turnover into points when RB/DL 28 Leftwich scored his 3rd TD on the night on a 1-yard plunge. On the next PH drive, WR/DB 11 Logan Jr. picked off a Patriot pass and Salem capitalized again on the takeaway when RB/DL 32 Isaiah Barlow patiently worked his way through the middle of the line for an 11-yard rushing TD with 2:16 left in the game. The Spartans tacked a safety on 10 seconds later and the game ended with Salem scoring 23 unanswered points to pull away for a 37-13 victory. – Mike ‘T-Mac’ Dermott
PH WR/DB 7Jahzae Kimbrough scores on a long catch and run
Offense: Rushing– Patrick Henry – C.Webb 11-45, TD, T.Webb 1-1, C.Taylor 1-(-2), J.Beasley 2-(-6), Team 1-(-5) Salem – J.Jones 19-80, D.Wilson 6-4, Cam Leftwich 30-146, 3 TD, Isaiah Barlow 8-38, TD Passing– Patrick Henry– J.Beasley 4/8-96, 2 INT Salem – D.Wilson 6/9-68, TD Receiving– Patrick Henry– A.Webb 1-40, J.Kimbrough 2-59, TD, JP Prusakowski 1-(-3) Salem – C.Logan Jr. 3-37, TD, Chase Greer 1-16, Jake Massey 1-10, J.Vernon 1-5 Punting– Patrick Henry– D.Serfass 1-40 Salem – 0/0
Scoring:
First Quarter –
PH: A.Webb 22-yd run; S.Dowdy PAT (9:35)
Second Quarter –
Salem: C.Leftwich 2-yd run; C.Wright PAT (7:52)
Third Quarter –
Salem: C.Leftwich 4-yd run; C.Wright PAT (5:22)
PH: J.Kimbrough 57-yd pass from J.Beasley; PAT Blocked (4:23)
Fourth Quarter –
Salem: C.Logan Jr. 20-yd pass from D. Wilson; C.Wright PAT (11:09)
Salem: C.Leftwich 1-yd run; C.Wright PAT (5:22)
Salem: I.Barlow 11-yd run; C.Wright PAT (2:16)
Salem: Safety (2:06)