The Salem High football team dug themselves into an early hole, battled back valiantly but came up six yards short in last Friday’s season opening football game against E.C. Glass. The Spartans were stopped on the Hilltopper six yard line with just over 30 seconds to go in a 27-20 loss at Salem Stadium.
“I’m proud of the way they battled back,” said Salem High coach Don Holter. “They showed a lot resolve. . . grit and toughness.”
The 2025 season didn’t start out well for the Spartans, who fumbled the opening kickoff. Glass scored just 54 seconds into the game on a 16 yard run and the Salemites found themselves behind 6-0. On the bright side, the extra point kick was wide and the old saying goes, “that could come back to hurt you.” It almost did.
Salem’s offense sputtered out of the gate and the Hilltoppers scored again with 6:44 still remaining in the first period. This time the extra point was good and the Spartans were on their heels.
Glass missed a 22 yard field goal attempt in the second quarter and that breathed some life back into the Spartans. They cut the lead to 13-7 on a Jordan Burton three yard bull rush with 1:15 left in the half and the Spartans found themselves down just six points after being outplayed in the first 24 minutes.
The second half didn’t start out any better than the first for Salem. Glass received the opening kickoff and on their first series Seven Waller went around right end for 80 yards and a 20-7 lead with 39 seconds gone in the half.
Salem battled back again. The Spartans put a nice drive together with quarterback Tanner Overstreet scoring on a 13 yard run. They pulled to within six again on Ethan Millard’s extra point, but on the first play after the kickoff Glass quarterback Jahlil Holloway went 73 yards for a score and it was a 13 point deficit again just 19 seconds after the Salem touchdown.
This was turning into a match between the tortoise and hare. Salem would move the ball slowly but surely, only to have the Hilltoppers counter with a lightning strike. But, if you remember, the tortoise usually wins and Salem marched the ball down the field again with Overstreet scoring on a 14 yard run with 1:39 still remaining in the third quarter. Tanner broke several tackles on the play.
“He’s developing into a fine young quarterback,” said Holter of Overstreet. “He’s put in a tremendous amount of work and he’s gotten big and strong.”
The Spartans were alive but still trailed since the opening seconds of the game, and when they stopped the Hilltoppers on downs a minute into the fourth quarter there was a buzz on the Salem sideline. The Spartans were stopped on the ensuing series, but the defense came up big again and gave the offense the ball back just shy of midfield on Salem’s side.
With 3:18 on the clock Salem faced a fourth and inches, and Burton took it 17 yards up the gut to the roar of the crowd. Salem moved inside the 10 to the six yard line on a nice run by Kyshead Arrington, but it was a yard short of a first down with 42 seconds to play. Salem put the ball into the hands of Burton again, but this time a horde of Hilltoppers met him at the line and the ball went over to Glass, virtually ending the game.
“We have to be able to move some people in that situation,” said Holter. “We have to win that yard off tackle with the fullback. Everybody has a hand in it. They all have to work together.”
Salem finished with 284 yards rushing with five Spartans carrying the ball. Arrington had 79 yards, Jordan McCaden had 78, Burton had 61, Overstreet had 35 and Joseph Henderson had 31. After a slow start the Spartans ended up averaging five and a half yards a carry. Unfortunately Glass’ two runs of 80 and 73 yards offset that.
“We didn’t execute well at times,” said Holter. “We were this close on those long runs but we missed a few tackles.”
Overstreet was four for five passing for just 15 yards. Nazir Ward caught two passes for nine yards as Salem’s passing game wasn’t a factor.
Defensively, Anthony Snead led Salem with nine tackles, eight of which were solos. DaVon Jones had eight tackles, Jamari Hairston had six and forced a fumble and Nick Baxley had a sack.
This Friday the Spartans are back home to host Franklin County. Last year in Rocky Mount the Salemites won a wild one, 56-30. The Spartans have won 20 of the last 21 meetings between the two, losing only in 2011 by a 14-13 score. Salem leads the all-time series 26-6 with one tie.
The Eagles, coached by former Spartan assistant JR Edwards, opened with a 27-19 win over Bassett last week. This is Edwards’ 11th year as head coach.
“They’re always well-coached,” said Holter. “They run a little more shotgun this year. Our main concern is we have to get better. We licked our wounds and now it’s time to heal.”
The Salem jayvees beat Glass in Lynchburg last week, 26-20. The jayvees will be at Franklin County tonight.
