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Perlow helps Marblehead football to upset win over Salem

Friday, September, 21 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

MARBLEHEAD | If it's a key game, then you want Sam Perlow around.

The hero of last Thanksgiving's upset win over Swampscott, the 230-pound junior captain responded in dramatic fashion for the Magicians again last night. Perlow returned a fumble 80 yards to key another upset, a 26-7 triumph over heavily favored Salem at Piper Field.

The 26 points scored by Marblehead were the most in one game against the Witches since 1957, when the Magicians scored a 33-7 victory.

Big plays were the order of the night for Marblehead, and none was bigger than Perlow's gem. Marblehead (2-1) was looking to erase a 7-6 Salem lead when the Witches went for it on 4th-and-3 from the hosts' 17-yard line. But a fumble ensued, and Perlow scooped it up and shot down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown return.

From that point on Marblehead never looked back, dominating the second half with three touchdowns and holding Salem's star junior tailback, Melikke Van Alstyne, to a single TD on the night.

What was the difference?

"We thought we could win," Perlow said.

Salem fumbled the ball five times, but lost only one | the one Perlow returned for the back-breaking score.

"That was the big play," Van Alstyne lamented after grinding out 167 yards on 31 carries.

"I think the play against Swampscott was a bigger thrill, but this TD was right was up there," Perlow added.

He was asked if he was running out of gas on that fumble return.

"First thing he did was ask for an inhaler," a teammate interrupted.

Marblehead head coach Doug Chernovetz said he had a feeling his club "would come out flying" after losing by 33 in Gloucester last weekend.

"We didn't want (Van Alstyne) cutting back on us. He's a fabulous back and we just wanted to contain him," Chernovetz beamed after getting congratulations from his parents, John and Audry, who drove up from Connecticut.

"It was sweet win after getting manhandled (48-15) in Gloucester. It's always nice to win at home, too. They went up on us early, but we kept coming back."

Salem was up 7-0 just three plays after the opening kickoff. Van Alstyne rushed for 17, 2 and finally 39 yards, and Dan Reddy's conversion gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

When Van Alstyne intercepted a pass on Marblehead's first series, it looked like a long night was in store for the Magicians.

But Marblehead held at its 18, punted out and two plays later Nick Haller (8 carries, 131 yards) zipped 82 yards to paydirt on a option pitch, putting the hosts on the board, 7-6.

It was one of those nights when Marblehead's defense bent but didn't break. The Magicians were more than deserving of their third series win over Salem in the last five years.

"The kids also remembered that triple OT loss at Salem last year (29-27)," Chernovetz said.

Mike Sahagian busted a 25-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left in the game and Ian McKinley kicked the PAT to make it 19-7. Sahagian then shook loose for a 50-yard gainer to the Salem 5-yard line to set up Haller's second touchdown, a 10-yard bolt off the left side after a five-yard penalty.

"We need to work on our offense," Salem (2-1) coach Scott Connolly said. "Marblehead played strong, and we expected that. Hats off to Marblehead tonight."

Salem's defense allowed 219 yards on the ground, adding to the problems on offense: five fumbles and just 3-for-14 passing for 69 yards.

"We could have played a lot better," Van Alstyne shrugged. But this night was all Marblehead's.

"We played tough and the kids were inspired with everyone picking them to lose," Chernovetz said.