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Salem High football holds off Lynn English in the rain

Friday, October, 19 By Mike Grenier
Sports editor

SALEM | If Salem High football coach Scott Connolly could control the weather, he might order rain every time the Witches take the field for the rest of the season.

Playing in deteriorating conditions at Bertram Field last night, Salem played one of its sharper two-way games and also got a school record 43-yard field goal from senior Dan Reddy in an invigorating 17-13 Northeastern Conference win over Lynn English. Salem boosted its record to 4-3 overall.

The English Bulldogs (2-5) made it scary at the end as Jason Gervaison scored on a 17-yard pass from Justin Young, slicing the deficit to 17-13 with 1:07 left. Salem's Melikke Van Alstyne (27 carries, 107 yards) subsequently fumbled on first down, giving English good field position at the Salem 45. However, Van Alstyne's teammate, Matt Paine, came to the rescue with an interception on the next play and the Witches were able to run out the clock.

"We played very well under bad conditions," said Salem quarterback Colby Boulay, who was 5-for-8 passing for 58 yards. "We faced adversity and came through. It's a big win for us because now we're 2-0 in the conference (large school division)."

The Witches did some good things throughout the contest, but the key came in the final 45 seconds of the first half when Salem changed the course of the game with 10 points, making it 17-7 at the half. The flurry of points was vitally important because the rain was much heavier in the second half, making it extremely difficult for both offenses.

Reddy went around the corner on a 13-yard touchdown run with 0:37 left in the half and added the extra point for a 14-7 lead.

Salem wasn't about to let Lynn English run out the clock. The Witches toughened up on defense, called timeouts and forced the Bulldogs to punt. Salem got the ball back with enough time for one more play and Reddy was more than ready, clobbering the ball 43 yards through the heavy air for the field goal that made it 17-7 at the half.

The previous field goal record for Salem was held by Robert Carter, who converted a 40 yarder against Marblehead in 1977.

"That one felt good from the time I kicked it," said Reddy. On a night when the English defense loaded up on Van Alstyne, Salem had an effective change-of-pace player in Reddy, who picked up 36 yards on six carries.

"I asked the kids to play 44 minutes and tonight they really did it," said Salem coach Scott Connolly. "Dan Reddy had an unbelievable game. We ran the jet sweep with him a few times and his field goal was huge. I also thought our defense played outstanding."

Before conditions worsened, Boulay tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Holding and Reddy booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Charles Rucker tied it for English in the first quarter on a 34-yard pass play from quarterback Jesse Fowler.

Lynn English was limited to 91 yards on the ground.