Salmen senior quarterback Julien Troullier ran for 195 yards and passed for 60 more, while putting up four touchdowns in the Spartans 28-7 win over Slidell during both teams’ opener Friday night at L.V. McGinty Stadium.

The squads were scheduled to start the season on the last Friday, but Hurricane Gustav cancelled Salmen’s home game with Northshore and Slidell’s road contest against Holy Cross.

On a windy night, it seemed that the running game would be the key and it was. The Spartans ran for 317 yards, helped out by Troullier, who had touchdown runs of 12, 6 and 2 yards, while adding a 15-yard strike to Daniel Sams.

Salmen quarterback Julien Troullier (4), who had 255 all-purpose yards runs up field, while being pursued by Slidell'€™s Morris Smith (40) during Friday'€™s opener at L.V. McGinty Stadium. (Photo by James Elorriaga)

Troullier talked about the game.

“My line was blocking great,” Troullier said. “We were executing everything.”

Salmen opened the scoring on its first possession. The Spartans got the ball on Slidell’s 47-yard line.

Facing a first-and-goal at the 12, Troullier ran left and through defenders for the score. Chris Gulino’s extra point split the uprights to give Salmen a 7-0 lead with 7:43 left in the opening period. The big play on the drive came when Troullier connected with Isiah Tate for 14 yards on fourth-and six at Slidell’s 42.

The score stayed that way until the second quarter. Salmen got the ball with 1:57 left in the first quarter and drove 57 yards in 10 plays. The Spartans once again were able to convert a fourth down. Needing just one yard, Troullier picked up the first and SHS was called for a facemask penalty, which brought the ball down to the Tiger’s 30. Later in the drive, on second-and-goal at the 15, Troullier fired a pass to Sams at the back of the end zone for the TD. Gulino’s PAT gave Salmen a 14-0 advantage with 9:59 left in the first half.

The Tigers got on the board later in the quarter and it was set up by a 70-yard punt by Stephen Mullet, which was downed at the Spartans’ three.

Slidell’s defense forced a three-and-out and a Spartan punt from their own 4. With the stiff wind against Salmen, the punt was downed at Salmen’s 16.

With the ball at the seven, Blake Forbis took the snap, ran left and dove for the pylon to get the score. Chris Barnes’ extra point cut the lead to 14-7 and it remained there until halftime.

Salmen took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards. On second-and-two at SHS’ six, Troullier faked a pass, ran up the middle and fumbled, but an inadvertent whistle forced the play to be done over again. On the next play, Troullier ran for his second touchdown of the night.

Slidell took the next possession down to Salmen’s four-yard line, but squandered a scoring opportunity on a fumble by the Tigers and a recovery by the Spartans’ David Edgerson. Salmen took the ensuing drive down to Slidell’s 18, but turned the ball over on downs.

The Tigers then drove to the Spartans’ seven, but couldn’t convert on fourth down with 9:24 left in the fourth quarter.

Salmen took advantage and drove 93 yards, chewing 7:23 off the clock, capped off by a Troullier two-yard TD run and Gulino’s extra point finalized the tally at 28-7.

Salmen coach Jerry Leonard said the wind was a big factor in the Spartans’ play calling.

“It was just real hard to throw the football when you were going in that direction (left of Salmen’s bench),” Leonard said. “We made a point to say that if we could, we’re going to try and run it when the wind was in our face and short passes when we had it at our backs. It was really a crosswind, but we had to play to the conditions and that was part of the game plan coming in.”

Salmen returns to action Friday with a road game against John Curtis. Slidell with try to even its mark when the Tigers host Carver on Friday.