MINERVA–The scoring started slow, but once the second half began both Salem and Minerva got going on Friday night.

With a combined 47 points scored in the second half, Salem outdistanced Minerva 42-26.

“(Minerva) came out with a defense that we weren’t quite expecting,” Salem coach Ron Johnson said. “They do stuff like that and are trying to find themselves and it is good for them. We just had to get it drawn up and figure out what to do in the second half and our kids made some plays in the second half.”

They certainly did, as Salem quarterback Jackson Johnson recorded four total touchdowns and Blaize Exline recorded three, two receiving and one rushing. Johnson threw for three of his touchdowns and ran one in late in the contest. Salem speedster Jax Booth had a 47 yard receiving touchdown as well.

“All week we thought they were going to come out in a soft cover three but they came out in a press man and it threw us off on our first couple drives,” Jackson Johnson said. “We got it clicking because we faced man earlier in the season and then we were good after that.”

Jackson Johnson threw an interception on a tipped pass on the first drive, but bounced back well and finished with just the one miscue.

“It’s past us,” Jackson Johnson said about having a short memory. “It’s like an 80 yard touchdown pass. Its past us and you move on.”

After a Garrison Markins touchdown cut the Salem lead to just seven right before the half, Minerva recovered an onside kick and drove down the field. However, they were stymied at the goalline to keep the score 14-7 Salem at the half.

“It was big,” Ron Johnson said about the stop. “It kind of reasserted ourselves. We just had the other score down there and put the ball down on the five or we might have taken their heart right there. We made just enough mistakes to keep them in it but our kids persevered, they battled hard and made some plays in the second half. I was just really happy to see guys make plays and they had fun. They had fun making them.”

Minerva was able to cut into the Salem lead late, scoring 19 fourth quarter points.

“In the fourth quarter, we played our young guys,” Ron Johnson said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity and let them play under the lights. We thought we had the score in hand and thought we could answer if need be. Our young guys got a chance to play and I think they saw some things they need to work on and do a little better.”

Minerva had four straight drives in the first half end on the Salem end of the field on turnover on downs. Head coach Mark Hundley said the best way to get points on the board is to keep working.

“Just practice,” Hundley said. “You just have to keep plugging away and keep working and keep improving. That’s what I told the guys when I got in there. I initially had in my notes that the difference was they made 4-5 plays that we didn’t make but by the time we got to the end there we kept coming and coming and they only made 2-3 plays that we didn’t make. That was it. We make those plays and it is a completely different game. We just have to keep working at it.

“If you really look at it, our season so far this year has not gone well at all,” Hundley said. “But, we have played well in every single game and just have not been able to sustain it every game. Something about these kids, they just keep coming. I told them that as long as you guys keep coming I will keep coming and coaching you. That is what they do. I can’t be any prouder of them and I told them what we have to get good at is learning how to keep coming for 48 minutes. We can’t play 24 minutes and then let up, we have to play all 48 and we finally did that tonight.”

Minerva had almost 400 yards rushing with Ryder Hartshorn carrying the ball 13 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Jimmy Commons added 110 yards and Garrison Markins added 94 yards and a touchdown.

Salem had a big blocked punt in the fourth quarter by Landon Cooper that resulted in a Jason Austin one yard touchdown and ultimately putting the game away for good.

SALEM: 0-14-15-13–42

MINERVA: 0- 7- 0-19–26

SCORING

S– Blaize Exline 14 run (Haden Tomidajewicz kick)

S– Jax Booth 47 pass from Jackson Johnson (Tomidajewicz kick)

M– Garrison Markins 43 run (Nick Chaddock kick)

S– Exline 15 pass from Johnson (Tomidajewicz kick)

S– Exline 39 pass from Johnson (Xzavier Chaffin pass)

M– Ryder Hartshorn 21 run (Chaddock kick)

S– Jason Austin 1 run (Tomidajewicz kick)

M– Hartshorn 54 run (kick failed)

S– Johnson 42 run (kick failed)

M– Hartshorn 47 run (kick failed)

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S M

First downs 14 15

Total Yards 350 458

Rushes-yds 20-167 63-395

Passing 183 63

Comp-Att-Int 10-21-1 6-15-0

Punts 2-81 2-42

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0

Penalties-Yds 5-33 2-20

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Salem, Jackson Johnson 9-109-1, Jason Austin 7-25-1, Blaize Exline 4-33-1; Minerva, Ryder Hartshorn 13-176-3, Jimmy Commons 21-110, Garrison Markins 15-94-1, Khail Louive 9-36

PASSING–Salem, Jackson Johnson 10-21-183-3-1; Minerva, Brayden Costea 6-15-63-0-0

RECEIVING–Salem, Blaize Exline 4-76-2, Jax Booth 2-62-1, Brock Young 3-27, Dillon Monroy 1-18; Minerva, JJ Johns 1-17, Cole Patterson 1-16, Eric Murray 1-11

INTERCEPTIONS– Salem, None; Minerva, Garrison Markins

FUMBLE RECOVERIES–Salem, Damon Wolfe; Minerva, Jimmy Common

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WEEK FIVE

Friday, September 25

Souhern 34, United 21

Wellsville 3. Columbiana 0

Valley Christian 12, Lisbon 7

West Branch 34, East Liverpool 28

Salem 42, Minerva 26

Beaver Local 48, Edison 0

South Range 40, Struthers 6

Lowellville 43, Sebring 22

Newton Falls at Crestview, postponed

Saturday, September 26

Leetonia vs. East Palestine at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium, 7 p.m.