RallyNorth.net

Salem runs past Dover

Friday, September, 04 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

SALEM, N.H. — Prior to last night’s season-opening game at Salem, the Dover coaching staff was primarily concerned with stopping speedy Blue Devils’ junior Max Jacques.

“That No. 5 can kill you with his speed,” said one of the assistants. “We’ve got to contain him.”

Jacques didn’t disappoint as he scored twice, on runs of 9 and 46 yards, and gained 172 yards overall, but he was hardly Salem’s only weapon in a 40-21 non-league win.

Backfield mates Alex Sobrado (18 carries, 107 yards) and Jerickson Fedrick (11-73) also scored twice as the Blue Devils unveiled a legitimate triple threat while rushing for a whopping 354 yards.

And just who are Sobrado and Fedrick? Many of the 1,500 fans on hand weren’t sure beforehand, but they’ll know now.

Sobrado, a senior, played defense the first half of the year in 2008 before suffering a season-ending injury, and Fedrick is only a sophomore who spent last year as a backup.

“I wasn’t even expecting to play offense this year,,” said the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Sobrado. “I guess they needed another back and I love it.”

Salem head coach Jack Gati had plans for Sobrado and Fedrick all along, however.

“Alex is a track guy and very athletic and we thought he could help us back there,” said Gati. “And Fedrick is going to be a good one. He showed his explosiveness on that interception.”

Fedrick, who earlier scored on a 30-yard run, returned an interception 27 yards for the final TD of the game to put the nail in the coffin of a pesky Dover club that displayed a dangerous passing attack.

The Blue Devils held a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter, but Dover narrowed the score to 21-14 at halftime courtesy of a 90-yard TD pass from Colin Carville to Matt Gambill, which resulted from a missed interception attempt, and a freak play on the last play of the second quarter.

On that play, Salem placekicker Chris Saulnier topped the ball on a 36-yard field goal attempt. With everyone standing around thinking the half had ended, Dover’s Eric Leighton suddenly picked up the loose ball and sprinted around the end and, with a wall of blockers, sprinted 89 yards for a touchdown.

But, by sharing the load among its three backs, Salem regained control in the second half, scoring three of four touchdowns.

Cannone, who was one of six sophomore starters on offense for Dover, threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns. but he was also intercepted four times. In addition to Fedrick’s pick, Darren Brown, Jake Matthews and Mike Lorenz all had interceptions for Salem.

“Dover always has a good program, so this was a good win for us,” said Gati,

Up-and-down debut for kicker
It was a night to remember for Salem placekicker Chris Saulnier, who just joined the team two weeks ago.

A junior and former soccer player, Saulnier hit his first extra point in the first half, but was denied on his second attempt when the ball hit the goal post.

The second half was also a mixed bag. He connected on his only extra-point attempt (although the third bad snap of the game prevented another try) but a 23-yard field goal try — incredibly — hit the goal post again.

On the other hand, all of Saulnier’s kickoffs were high and fairly deep.

“He’s going to be all right and we’re happy to have him,” said Gati. “He’s been very accurate in practice.”