Nov. 22, 2019 --- Salem 48 G.W. 21
Powerful Spartans end Eagles' season
After three quarters that featured lots of drama and changes
of momentum, the GW Eagles found themselves trailing the Salem Spartans by only
a touchdown. But the Spartans showed why
they are the number-one seed in Region 4D.
They scored three straight touchdowns to close the same, winning 48-21
and advancing to next week’s regional championship.
For the second straight week the Eagles used the opening
kickoff set the tempo. Shy Watlington set the Eagles up in good field position to score on a short run from Wesley Graves. The extra point was no good, and the Eagles
led 6-0.
But Salem wasted no time answering. On the second play of their next possession,
quarterback Hunter Chaney hit wideout Shawn Collins with a perfectly-thrown
pass on a streak pattern. The 56-yard
strike gave Salem a 7-6 lead. A lead
they would never relinquish. Salem’s punishing run game ground out two more scores in the
second quarter to put them ahead 21-6.
Salem was driving for another score late in the first half, but Eagles
Free Safety Shawn Watlington picked off a pass in the end zone. The teams went into the locker room with
Salem up by two scores.
With Salem getting the ball to open the second half the GW
defense needed to step up. They
did. They forced their only
three-and-out of the night and gave the offense the football back quickly.
Quarterback Shakobe Hairston hit Watlington on a beautifully-run post
pattern. The score made it 21-14 after
Graves scored on a two-point conversion.
Salem got their two-score lead back on their next possession with an unusual play. The Spartans completed a pass into Eagle territory. As several Eagle defenders brought down the receiver, the ball squirted free. It went right into the arms of Salem Wide Receiver Jayden McDonald. He ran it in from 22 yards out to make it 28-14 Salem.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Spartans. They scored on the first play of the frame as
Chaney found Zavion Wood from 19 yards out to make it 35-21 Spartans. An Eagle interception gave the Spartans
possession. Isaiah Persinger scored from
30 yards out with less than four minutes left to make it 42-21 Salem. Cameron Leftwich scored with under a minute
left to make it a 48-21 final.
TEAM STATS
| G.W. | OPP. | |
| First Downs | 9 | 16 |
| Rushes-Yds | 30-141 | 40-318 |
| Pass YDs | 128 | 112 |
| C-A-I | 8-16-2 | 6-9-1 |
| Total Yards | 269 | 430 |
INDIVIDUAL STATS
| RUSHING | Att. | Yds. | Avg. | TDs. |
| Graves | 17 | 89 | 5.3 | 2 |
| Hairston | 8 | 25 | 3.2 | 0 |
| Sn.Watlington | 4 | 24 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Edmunds | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| PASSING | ATT. | Comp. | Yds | TDs. | Int. |
| Hairston | 15 | 9 | 128 | 1 | 1 |
| Graves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| RECEIVING | NO. | YDS. | Avg. | TDs. |
| Sn.Watlington | 3 | 45 | 15.0 | 1 |
| Sy.Watlington | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 0 |
| Bethel | 1 | 55 | 55.0 | 0 |
| Graves | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Goode | 1 | -4 | -4.0 | 0 |
| KICKING | XPM-XPA | FGM-FGA | Pts. |
| Deandrea | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 |
| INT. | No. | SACKS | No. | |
| Sn.Watlington | 1 |
| SCORING | Rushing | Receiving | Return | XP | FG | Sf. | Points |
| Hairston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Sn.Watlington | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Graves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| King | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Deandrea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Third Quarter
GW --- Sn. Watlington 24 pass from Hairston (Graves pass from Hairston) 7:31
Salem --- McDonald 22 fumble return (kick good) 4:41
GW --- Graves 3 run (Deandrea kick) 1:49
Fourth Quarter