Salem gets it done in the air and on the ground in 41-24 win over Patrick Henry
Merrill Gainer Field, Roanoke, VA – The Patriots air raid was not enough to keep up with Salem’s heavy run oriented offense Thursday night. Patrick Henry started off strong with a time-churning drive that ended with K 3 Sam Dowdy nailing an impressive 47-yard field goal. Salem, to their credit, did what Salem always does. They lean heavy on the run. But their first score came by air.
Taking only three plays, Spartans Senior QB 8 Eli Taylor tossed a 37-yard touchdown to TE/LB 11 Anthony Snead to claim the lead 7-3. Salem added to that on the legs of Senior RB 22 Josiah Persinger who punched it in from 20-yards out to put Salem up 14-3. PH turned the ball over on a fumble and the Spartans went to work again, with great field position.
| Salem | Patrick Henry | |
| Rushes/Yards | 291, 5TDs | 89, TD |
| Passing – Yards | 46, TD | 244, 2TDs |
| Kicking | 5/6 PATs | 47-yd FG, 3/3 PATs |
| Total Yards | 337 | 171 |
| Score | 41 | 24 |
Sophomore RB/DB 30 Jordan McCadden wasted little time rolling for a 40-yard touchdown to pursh it to a 21-3 Spartan lead. The defenses settled in a little bit more in the second half. It took until the end of the 3rd quarter before Persinger got loose again for another TD. This time the speedy Senior made PH pay from 49 yards out. Persinger followed that up with his third touchdown of the night from 11-yards out to make it 34-3.
Patrick Henry’s passing attack finally came alive in the final stanza. QB 17 Seth Shepherd hit WR 2 Cameron Hairston with a 5 yard pop-pass for a score to cut the lead to 34-10. Shepherd kept the air attack going with 61-yard touchdown pass to WR 4 Cam Ogletree making it a respectable 34-17. But Salem wasn’t done. Taylor found FB 21 Kyshead Arrington on a 54- yard touchdown pass and catch. PH never gave up. Shepherd added a late Patriot touchdown to get us to the final, 41-24. Salem rushed for 291 yards on the night, which opened up the pass. The Patrick Henry kept clawing back every chance they got, but it was too little too late. – Chase Dorman
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Salem | 0 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 41 |
| Patrick Henry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 24 |
Scoring
1st Quarter:
PH 3-0 K 3 Sam Dowdy 47-yard FG (1:14)
2nd Quarter:
S 7-3 Anthony Snead 37-yard TD reception from Eli Taylor; PAT Ethan Millard (10:55)
S 14-3 Josiah Persinger 20-yard TD run; PAT Ethan Millard (5:12)
S 21-3 Jordan McCadden Salem 40-yard TD run; PAT Ethan Millard (3:57)
3rd Quarter:
S 28-3 Josiah Persinger 49-yard TD run ; PAT Ethan Millard (9:13)
S 34-3 Josiah Persinger 11-yard TD run; PAT No good(3:04)
4th Quarter:
PH 10-34 Cameron Hairston 5-yard TD pass from Seth Shepherd; PAT Sam Dowdy (11:05)
PH 17-34 Cam Ogletree 61-yard TD pass from Seth Shepherd; PAT Sam Dowdy (6:09)
S 41-17 Kyshead Arrington 54-yard TD run; PAT Ethan Millard (4:29)
PH 24-41 Seth Shepherd 11-yard TD run; PAT Sam Dowdy (0:50).
