RallyNorth.net

Salem Blue Devils Football '08

Fri, Oct 24, 2008 07:00 PM @ Concord
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Salem 0 0 6 0 6
Concord 12 6 0 13 31

Salem bedeviled by Concord

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Friday, October, 24 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

CONCORD — Name a phase of the game and Concord dominated Salem at it.

Especially in a decisive first half, the host Crimson Tide relentlessly pummelled the Blue Devils on both sides of the ball on route to a 31-6 victory.

"They’re big, physical and athletic and they just came out with a smart game plan and took it to us," Salem head coach Jack Gati said. "It’s an easy explanation. We just didn’t play well."

Offensively, Concord (2-4 in Division 1, 4-4 overall) pounded the middle with Alex Smith (11 carries, 50 yards, 1 touchdown) and Kyle Starr (15 carries for 37 yards, 1 TD), then sent speedy quarterback Colin Brown (12 carries, 133 yards and 1 score) to the outside. In all, the Tide ran the ball 50 times for 276 yards, rolling up 18 first downs and converting over half of its late-down plays.

Touchdowns on its first three possessions including drives of 64 and 87 yards gave Concord a convincing 18-0 lead four minutes into second quarter play.

Salem (2-4, 3-5) found its stride for a short while late in the third quarter, closing to within 18-6 with 36 seconds left on a 2-yard TD tote by Alex Sobrado set up by a 32-yard romp from Max Jacques (97 yards on 15 carries). But Concord shut the Devils down and posted a pair of fourth-quarter scores to wrap things up.

Once again, pass protection proved to be a key problem for Salem as it allowed nine sacks for minus-49 yards. Senior defensive end Jeremiah Grisa lived in the backfield, racking up 4½ sacks with counterpart Craig Carrier adding 1½ and linebacker Mike Bradley contributing a pair.

"We just didn’t carry out our blocking assignments well," Gati said. "They were in our backfield all night long."

The Blue Devil offense suffered an additional blow as starting running back Mike Rocheleau injured his left knee on a second-quarter punt return. He was on the sidelines on crutches and in a brace at game’s end.

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

C — Kyle Starr 5 run (run failed), 7:18

C — Alex Smith 4 run (run failed), 2:58 

Second Quarter

C — Colin Brown 57 run (pass failed), 8:05

Third Quarter

S — Alex Sobrado 2 run (pass failed), 0:37

Fourth Quarter

C — Starr 3 run (pass failed), 9:45

C — John Hall 1 run (Brice Spaulding kick), 2:51 

 


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Salem (44-141) — Max Jacques 15-97, Alex Sobrado 9-31, Jake Matthews 2-28, Mike Rocheleau 4-23, Craig Martland 1-3, Mike DiPalma 1-2, Tyler Kelley 1-(-2), Matt Cannone 11-(-41); Concord (50-276) — Colin Brown 12-133, Alex Smith 11-50, Kyle Starr 15-37

PASSING: Salem — Cannone 4-5-0, 50; Concord — Brown 3-7-0, 48

RECEIVING: Salem — Tom Tarallo 3-35, Cory Lavallee 1-15; Concord — Starr 1-41, Mike Bradley 1-16, Smith 1-(-9)

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