There were plenty of new faces but much the same result when the Salem High football team opened the season at home against Amherst County last Friday.
The Spartans jumped on top early and cruised to a 49-14 victory at Salem Stadium. “We have some good ones coming,” said Salem coach Stephen Magenbauer of his rebuilt backfield and receiving corps. “We made some mistakes, but overall I was pleased. We got better as we went along.” And Salem started fast. On their first series of the season senior quarterback Jack Gladden hit a wide open Chase Ferris in stride down the middle of the field for a 38 yard TD. Then Bobby Pinello bulled over from 11 yards out for his first varsity touchdown to make it 14-0 with the extra point kick by Hunter Gregiotis.
Amherst answered on a 44 yard run early in the second quarter, but Salem made it 21-7 when Isaiah Persinger ran in from 14 yards out. Persinger had a convoy to the corner on the scoreboard end of the visitors’ side, crossing the goal line untouched by Lancer hands. The Spartans went up by three touchdowns with less than a minute remaining in the half. Gladden scrambled to his left and found Ferris open at the goal line, connecting with Chase for their second TD of the half. The Spartans had the clock running continuously with two more scores in the third quarter while shutting the Lancers out. Zavione Wood scored on a four yard run, then Chandler Sutphin found a big hole on the right side of the line for a two yard TD run to make it 42-7. Amherst would score to stop the clock in the fourth quarter, but Salem put the finishing touches on the victory when freshman Cameron Leftwich scored his first varsity TD with just under four minutes to go.
“I thought we played better as we went along,” said Magenbauer. “We’re very young in the secondary but I thought we played well. We have to keep taking baby steps.” Salem has an entirely new secondary from a year ago but they held up well. Sophomores Jorden McDonald and Shawn Collins both had interceptions that set the Spartans up with good field position. Avery Close led the defense with five tackles, including four for losses, and two sacks. Anthony Haupt had three tackles and Sutphin, Tyler Williams and Torren Pellant had two each. On offense Gladden was five for 13 for 145 yards, spreading the ball around to five different receivers. Ferris led the way with four catches for 103 yards and Sutphin, Pinello, Close and Collins had one reception each. “One thing I was excited about was how well our receivers are blocking,” said Magenbauer.
“By far that’s what I’m the most proud of.” Persinger rushed for 164 yards on 21 carries in his first varsity start. Pinello had 55 yards on seven carries while Wood had 54 on six. Sutphin and Landon Guthrie had 23 yards each and Leftwich had two for 17. Five of the six scored touchdowns and no one in the group is a senior. “Overall, our team effort was good,” said Magenbauer. “We made some mental mistakes but we played hard.” This week the Spartans will hit the road for the first time as they take on Franklin County. The Eagles, coached y former Salem assistant JR Edwards, lost their opener last week, 34-14, to Liberty. Salem’s jayvee team beat Glenvar Monday night at Salem Stadium, 45-6. Guthrie scored four touchdowns for the junior Spartans.
Andrew Lewis Middle School defeated William Byrd last Thursday, 16-8, to even their record at 1-1. The Wolverines will host Read Mountain today at 5 pm in a jayvee- varsity doubleheader at Salem Stadium. The jayvees will host Franklin County in the second game.