The Salmen Spartans, fresh off a disappointing overtime loss to Franklinton last week, got a wakeup call early in the final District 9-4A against the Pearl River Rebels, but still managed to win their seventh game of the season by a 34-7 margin.

The Rebels (5-5), 1-3 in district, made a game of it in the first period holding the highly favored Spartans to a 0-0 draw and a 14-7 halftime score.

But the Spartans (7-2, 3-1) came out of the locker room and totally dominated the Rebels in the second half, scoring three, unanswered touchdowns to pull away.

Salmen’s George Williams (88) makes a leaping catch over Pearl River’s Kendall Twillie (20) during the second quarter of Friday night’s game at PRHS. (Photo by Shannon Diecidue)

Following the scoreless first quarter, Salmen got on the board with 8:35 remaining in the second. It only took them three plays to get in with the big play coming on a 36-yard pass from Matt Lipham to his favorite receiver Jamal Robinson down to the one. On the third snap of the drive, Errol Scott took it in for the score. Chris Gulino’s PAT was good for a 7-0 lead.

Pearl River punted on its next possession. Salmen’s George Williams fielded the ball and rumbled 57 yards down to Pearl River’s 21. Five plays later Josh Adams took it in five yards out for the second Spartans’ touchdown. Gulino’s PAT was good again to extend the lead to 14-0 with 2:36 left in the half.

Salmen’s Joe Jackson picked off a Doug Conravey pass, but a stubborn Rebels’ defense didn’t allow them to capitalize and forced them to punt.

With time running out in the half, the Rebels forced the Spartans’ kicker to shank the ball giving them one more shot at a score from Salmen’s 33 yard line. The Rebels made good on the challenge when Conravey hit Craig Domingue with a 16-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. With 29 seconds left Vincent Piazza made good on the PAT to pull the Rebels back into it 14-7. Conravey threw for 80 yards.

The second half was a rude awakening for the Rebels as the Spartans dominated in every phase of the game.

Salmen scored on its’ first possession when Robinson fielded a 10-yard scoring pass from Lipham using only 1:23 of the third-quarter clock. Gulino made it three PATs in a row to increase the Spartan lead to 21-7.

PRHS’ offense failed to move the ball and was forced to punt. This time it took the Spartans nine plays to go 56 yards with the capper coming on a two-yard run by Adams. Gulino’s PAT was blocked to keep it 27-7 with 4:19 left in the third.

After both teams exchanged punts, Pearl River’s woes continued when Kendall Twillie fumbled and Salmen’s T.J. Price fell on it to set the Spartans’ offense up at the Pearl River 28.

Lipham made short work of this drive using only two plays to score as he took it in himself from 10 yards out for the final Salmen touchdown. Gulino made the PAT to end the scoring at 34-7.

One of the big stories of the night was the dominance of the Spartan run defense. Jackson, Price, Jaron Adams, Jordan Stevenson and Michael Ray spearheaded the success. Pearl River could only manage 113 yards on the ground with 61 of those coming from James Gillum, the heart and soul of the Rebel offense. Gillum was injured on a pass play early in the second half and sat out the rest of the game.

“It looks like a minor hamstring pull,” said Pearl River head coach Joe Harris. “With a chance that we might get into the playoffs, I didn’t want him to make it worse and not be able to play.”

The Rebels’ run defense made a good showing against the Spartans. Salmen managed 83 rushing yards on 19 carries and were forced to pass. Conravey, Kyle Jansson, Blake Baughman, Adam Gilliland and Eric Warren all had outstanding nights.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, the passing game proved to be their downfall. Lipham hit on 14-of-26 for 226 yards and a score.

On his team’s win against the Rebels, Salmen coach Jerry Leonard was quick to say some good things about his quarterback and his offense.

“Matt (Lipham) has done a great job for us. He seems to be getting more comfortable in the offense, which is getting better and better.”

When asked about where he thought his team was as he enters week 10 and the playoffs.

“I would rather be undefeated right now and not have lost those two overtime games. We have the intensity and the desire right now, but we need to execute better.”