Salem’s defense is its own culture.
After shutting out Landstown in the season-opener, players pleaded with each other Friday to halt Tallwood as it inched closer to the goal line.
“They ain’t scoring on us!” defensive lineman Zyreon Rogers shouted in the first half despite 5 yards separating the ball from the end zone. His prophecy rang true as Salem forced a turnover on downs.
“They do not score!” defensive back Jahiel Mitchell yelled in the fourth quarter as Tallwood closed in again. This time the Lions did score, but Salem stopped the 2-point try that would’ve tied the game.
Salem survived, the No. 11 SunDevils winning 8-6 at Tallwood in a sloppy contest that featured 20 combined penalties, six turnovers and just 30 combined rushing yards.
It’s the kind of ugly win the Salem defense has no trouble relishing in.
“It’s Black D,” Mitchell said. “That’s what we call ourselves. That’s what we represent. Black defense. Salem football. Every time you hear about Salem football, you always know they got a good defense so you gotta play. You gotta show out.”
Tallwood’s potential game-winning drive with three minutes left in regulation fell apart when Ari Watford recorded his fourth sack of the game on a third-and-2 and a fourth-down pass was incomplete.
Salem coach Marcus Johnson-Williams was happy with the perseverance shown but is eager to get started on improvements.
“I think things went very slow coming out of the gate,” he said. “We’re talking about a week and a half off, and the only way you can actually get better playing football is playing football. I thought the kids did a very good job responding in the second half.”
Quarterback Angelo Liotta found a rhythm after halftime, launching a 72-yard touchdown pass to Jahrell Walton in the third quarter that broke the scoreless tie.
The yardage on that play was more than Salem’s entire first-half total (69 yards).
“I appreciate Angelo taking the time to make the pass and I really appreciate the offensive line slowing the game down and picking their blocks up,” Johnson-Williams said.
Liotta completed 12 of 22 passes for 177 yards, a touchdown and interception. Salem moves to 2-0 overall after graduating many of the spring-season starters ahead of Johnson-Williams’ first season.
“I learned these younger guys, they got some fight,” Johnson-Williams said. “They got what I call grit. I call them cowboys. That’s because they’re fighters. I’m excited.”
Ray Nimmo, 757-446-2364, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com
