Bulldog’s Davidson difference in LCA’s 35-21 win over Salem
Liberty Christian Academy, Lynchburg, VA – LCA kept their “unbeaten streak” at home alive with an impressive 35-21 win over Salem. This matchup featured two state championship teams from last year. Salem lost on a last second play to Phoebus in the 2023 4A title game and LCA beat Lafayette 28-14 in the 3A final. These are different teams this year, but similar.
One big holdover from last year was 3A offensive player of the year, LCA RB/S 8 Gideon Davidson. His experience and talent showed up. Davidson, or ‘Gid the kid’ as he’s called, started the scoring on a nifty 36-yard dart around the right end, accellerating as he tightroped the sideline. He finished 28/265, 3TDs. It took Salem a quarter or so to adjust to Davidson’s speed. Salem looked to answer with an impressive drive of their own. Racking up twelve plays, the Spartans drove it inside the ten, but a chop block call in the interior of the line pushed them back out to the twenty-nine. Two plays later, Salem lined up to kick a field goal, but it was blocked by LCA QB/WR/LB 5 James Deyo and returned by WR/DB 21 Henry Maier to the Spartan nineteen. Deyo scored from the one four plays later to put the Bulldogs up 14-0.
Salem again clawed back with another long drive. Eating up seven and a half minutes, the visitors scored on a perfectly thrown, over the shoulder TD pass from QB 8 Eli Taylor to WR 4 Logan Coen to make it 14-7 with 4:26 left until half. LCA’s Davidson added a 4-yard TD run nearly 4 minutes later. The point after failed and it was a 20-7 LCA halftime lead. Coach Rocco was nervous about this game, but likes the competition. “They are a great team. I was hoping we could keep playing them after this year.”
In the second half Salem tightened the score with their speedster RB 23 Josiah Persinger’s (19/111,TD) 6-yard TD run. But again the Bulldogs answered. Freshman QB 9 Tyler Jackson found WR 10 Micah Scott for a 13-yard TD. Davidson added a 13-yard TD in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 35-14. But on the ensuing kickoff, RB/DB 30 Jordan McCadden took it 82-yards to the house, blowing by everyone, making it 35-21. But LCA and Davidson wouldn’t give the ball back, salting away the win. Davidson, a Clemson Commit, gave a tip of the hat to the Spartans after the game. “They’re a tough team. We had to play well (to get the win).” – Cap’n Crunch
| LCA | Salem | |
| Rushing Yards | 304 / 4TDs | 179 / TD |
| Passing Yards | 5/8, 54, TD | 7/11, 73, TD |
| Total Yards | 358 | 252 |
| Punting | 1/27 | 2/25 |
| Returns | 1/42 | 4/111, TD |
| Turnovers | – | 1 |
| Penalties | 7/45 | 3/45 |
| Score | 35 | 21 |
OFFENSE:
Rushing:
LCA–Gideon Davidson 28/268, 3TDs, Jaden Coward 6/20, James Deyo 4/16, TD Salem – Josiah Persinger 19/111, TD, Jordan McCadden 6/32, Eli Taylor 2/23, Jordan Burton 3/7, Dontay Davis 3/6
Passing:
LCA–Tyler Jackson 5/8, 54, TD Salem – Eli Taylor 7/11, 73, TD
Receiving:
LCA–Gideon Davidson 2/25, Jackson Damon 1/12, Dalton Nesselrotte 1/8, Austin Trembley 1/1 Salem – Coen Logan 6/52, TD, Bryson Fraction 1/21
Returns:
LCA–Bry Salem – Jordan McCadden 1/85, TD
Punting:
LCA–Bry Salem – Trey
Scoring:
First Quarter-
7-0 LCA: Bryce Smoot 48-yard TD run; Evan Conner PAT (1:32)
14-0 LCA: Bryce Smoot 48-yard TD run; Evan Conner PAT (1:32)
Second Quarter-
14-7 Salem: Bryce Smoot 45-yard TD run ; Evan Conner PAT (10:36)
20-7 LCA: Logan Lester 51-yard TD pass to Trey Taylor; Lester 2pt pass to
Jackson Deel (8:13)
Third Quarter-
20-14 Salem: Smoot 28-yard TD pass to Cole Ward; PAT No good (5:15)
28-14 LCA: Trey Taylor 75-yard TD run; Lester 2pt pass to Gavin Mays (4:43)
Fourth Quarter-
35-14 LCA: Bryce S
35-21 Salem: Smoot 51-yard TD pass to Cole Ward; PAT no Good (10:40)
