SALEM — It actually was much more dramatic than Salem coach Matt Bouchard wished, however in his program’s first-ever house playoff recreation, the Witches survived an almost miraculous rally from Dennis-Yarmouth to flee Bertram Field with a 33-27 win.
The Witches (7-2) advance to face No. 6 Cardinal Spellman within the Div. 6 quarterfinals subsequent week.
“We knew it was going to be a battle and it was. We were lucky to pull that one out,” Bouchard mentioned.
It appeared like Salem was going to cruise into the second spherical when Devante Ozuna scored on a 27-yard run with 1:55 left to offer his squad a 33-13 lead.
Dolphins quarterback Jayden Barber, who was a superb playmaker all recreation, hit Oliver Doto for a 67-yard rating on the following play to chop the result in 33-20.
Still, the Dolphins had been in want of two scores in 94 seconds to steal the win away. They promptly recovered an onside kick earlier than Barber hit Peyton Kellett for a 45-yard achieve to the one.
Two performs later, Barber (17 of 40, 259 yards) flipped one to Bryson Garcia for a rating that made it 33-27 with :29 left.
Improbably, the guests recovered a second straight onside kick at midfield and had an opportunity to attain the upset. A 25-yard cross to Mayo received the Dolphins in vary of a landing however Salem’s two-way star, Corey Grimes, slammed the door when he picked off Barber ultimately zone with two seconds left.
“Their quarterback was dynamic and you saw that,” Bouchard mentioned. “We did a great job on defense of holding them to seven points in the first three quarters.”
Salem scored on the sport’s opening drive regardless of 5 false begins and a holding penalty earlier than Grimes powered in from 4 yards out late within the first to make it 13-0. The groups traded touchdowns within the second quarter to make it 19-7 on the break with neither crew denting the scoreboard within the third quarter.
Grimes and Barber traded landing passes within the fourth earlier than the frantic end.
Source: www.bostonherald.com