Salmen seals district victory

Salmen ended its regular season going 5-0 in District 9-4A and finishing 7-2 overall to earn a state playoff berth closing out the year with a 49-0 shutout of the Riverdale Rebels Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie.

Riverdale concluded the year at 3-6 and 2-3 in league play.

Salmen scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and one in the final period to close the deal.

The storyline for the winners was big plays produce a big win, and Salmen scored six of its seven touchdowns off of turnovers or huge offensive plays.

Errol Scott darted 58 yards to tally the first touchdown of the evening at the midway mark of the first quarter. Victor Arroyo added the first of his six consecutive extra points to put the Spartans up 7-0.

Salmen added another tally four minutes later when Jaron Adams blocked a Russell Tannehill punt, which teammate Cedrick Wilkes recovered and rambled down to the one-yard line, setting up quarterback Daniel Sams’ one-yard run.

Chrishawn Dupuy picked off Rebels’ quarterback Antoine Williams about a yard deep in the end zone and returned the interception all the way back to add to the Spartans’ points. That was the deepest penetration Riverdale had on the night getting all the way down to Salmen’s 15 before Dupuy’s interception with just under eight minutes to go in the opening half.

With just eight ticks left before halftime, Sams connected with Isiah Tate first for 39 yards, and next for 16 and a score as Salmen’s senior receiver widened the gap to 28-0.

In the second half, Salmen started much like its first half offensive series, by fumbling the ball, but Gilbert Thomas’ recovery at the Spartans’ 23-yard line went for naught.

The Rebels, now with Tannehill under center, went in reverse and turned the ball over on downs.

Sams hooked up with Tate again at the midway point of the third stanza on a 10-yard strike, which capped off a six-play 68-yard drive with 38 of those yards coming on a Jeremiah Robinson carry down to the 17 of Riverdale.

On that drive, Sams fumbled while picking up yardage on the ground, but the ball popped up into the hands of offensive lineman Justin Viger who added a few more yards before being tackled.

Senior defensive back David Edgerson grabbed a Tannehill attempted toss and dashed 38 yards to pay dirt with a little over three minutes left in the third period to put Salmen up 42-0. With three minutes left in the contest Matt Lipham, now at quarterback for Salmen, attempted to hit James Foucha down close to the goal line on a throw, which was deflected into the waiting arms of Sornell Lacoste who carried it into the end zone. The completion was good for 34 yards and Chris Gulino’s extra-point kick closed out the scoring.

Senior linebacker Dedrick Parson recovered a fumble by Williams, who returned to the game at quarterback for the Rebels, late in the final quarter ending any hope that the Rebels would at least score a point in the match.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Salmen coach Jerry Leonard. “These seniors have been through a lot and this means so much to them,” he added. “I didn’t know what to expect tonight coming off of that team victory last week, but the special teams, offense and defense really came through.”