Pearl River’s Rebels host the Salmen Spartans in the regular-season finale for both teams tonight.

Both squads are attempting to rebound from six-point losses. Salmen (6-2, 2-1) comes into action after suffering a 20-14-overtime setback to Franklinton. Pearl River (5-4, 1-2) lost 19-13 against East Jefferson.

The Spartans won last season’s contest 18-13 on Halloween Night. The squads also met in the Slidell jamboree earlier this year and Salmen came out on top 49-17. The Spartans run a spread offense.

Last week, quarterback Matt Lipham threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Franklinton defense. Lipham helped engineer a 99-yard drive, which ended with him hitting wide receiver Greg Brickley for a 30-yard touchdown strike for the first points of the game.

The running backs are Errol Scott, Jordan Stevenson, Evin Claude and Josh Adams.

Last week, the rushing attack struggled against a very stout Demons’ defense. Scott carried the ball 16 times for 59 yards. He also threw a touchdown on a halfback pass, but it was called back for an illegal motion penalty.

The wide receivers are Brickley, Jamal Robinson, George Williams and James Foucha.

Against Franklinton, Brickley caught four passes for 69 yards, while Robinson tallied four receptions for 68 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown. Williams posted four catches for 36 yards.

Defensively, the Spartans run a 3-3.

The unit played against a Franklinton offense that had not scored fewer than 44 points until last week.

The Spartans recovered a fumble on the game’s opening drive, but the offense failed to put points on the board.

Joe Jackson intercepted a pass for the second-consecutive game. Also, Selby Jackson and T.J. Price recorded sacks for Salmen.

For Pearl River, coach Joe Harris knows his team is in for a challenge. He talked about the key to winning.

“We have to play great, catch them on a night when they’re not playing well, keep it close and try to beat them in the end,” Harris said.

Pearl River runs a wing-T offense led by senior running back James Gillum. Last week, he ran 41 times for 181 yards and both of the Rebels’ touchdowns.

Harris said on top of the 41 rushing-attempts, Gillum played every snap on defense along with returning kickoffs.

Gillum’s backfield mate is senior Kendal Twillie. He also goes both ways. Last week, he ran 12 times for 52 yards.

The Rebels are without senior back Jeremiah Levy due to injury. Sophomore Julian Carter, who also plays middle linebacker, replaces Levy. Defensively, Pearl River runs an odd stack.

Last week, East Jefferson fumbled five times and Pearl River recovered one of them.