varsity.roanoke.com

Talk about getting in a pickle.

The Blacksburg Bruins were only down 7-0 in the second quarter when two catches by Salem's Dustin Pickle led to two Spartans touchdowns in the space of a minute and the rout was on.

Pickle followed a 61-yard touchdown catch from Spartans quarterback Matt Shawver with the first of his three interceptions, setting up a 21-yard touchdown run by Andre Hairston to turn a friendly River Ridge District battle into a blowout that stretched to 34-6 before the final whistle blew.

Hairston and Joey Daniels both ran for more than 100 yards for the Spartans. Hairston carried the ball 17 times and picked up 102 yards and the touchdown. Daniels had 101 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries.

Shawver completed seven of 14 passes for 186 yards. He connected with Tony Spradlin three times, once on a 68-yarder.

"He throws right on the money," Pickle said.

Salem is 8-1 with a 3-1 district record going into next week's regular-season finale at Pulaski County.

The Bruins fell to 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the River Ridge.

"We gave it our best. That's what counts," said Blacksburg's Stuart Worley. "We didn't hold anything back."

Worley tipped one punt, blocked another and was responsible for the Bruins' only score, intercepting Shawver at the Salem 45 and dashing into the end zone late in the third quarter.

"The coaches called for it," Worley said. "I saw it coming, caught it and ran for dear life. ...

"They were fast."

Salem drove 54 yards on its first possession, with Daniels scoring from the four.

On first-and-10 from their 39 in the second quarter, the Spartans spread their offense, both vertically and horizontally. Shawver found Pickle around the Blacksburg 46 and the 5-foot-11 senior sprinted the rest of the way to the end zone.

"They were coming off the corner hard the whole first half," Pickle said. "I ran out on the flat and nobody was there. Matt threw a perfect pass."

The Bruins got just two plays in on their next possession. Quarterback Daniel Smith dropped back on second-and-8 from his 30 and Pickle, playing defensive back, stepped up, picked off the pass at the 35 and returned it to the 21. Hairston ran in the next Salem snap for a TD and a 21-0 Spartans lead.

Blacksburg 0 0 6 0 - 6

Salem 7 14 13 0 - 34

S - Daniels 4 run (Hall kick)

S - Pickle 61 pass from Shawver (Hall kick)

S - Hairston 21 run (Hall kick)

S - Daniels 35 run (kick failed)

S - Daniels 1 run (Hall kick)

B - Worley 45 interception return (kick failed)

Team statistics

Blacksburg Salem

First downs 5 18

Yards rushing 23-40 36-234

Passes C-A-I 8-18-3 4-14-1

Yards passing 46 186

Penalties-yards 4-36 7-105

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1

Punts-average 5-27.4 2-16.5

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Blacksburg, Gregory 6-18, Bennett 6-14, Woods 7-11, Turley 2-7; Salem, Hairston 17-102, Daniels 8-101, Turk 4-16, Gaines 1-15.

PASSING - Blacksburg, Smith 6-13-2-31, Cooke 2-5-1-15; Salem Shawver 7-14-1-186.

RECEIVING - Blacksburg, DiSalvo 4-30, Matthews 3-10, Doss 1-6. Salem, Spradlin 3-98, Pickle 1-61, Webb 1-10, Hanabury 1-9.