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The postgame hugs came in bunches, just like his yardage. D'Juan Smith had waited a long time for this night, and everyone around him knew it.

Pressed into the starting role because of an injury to standout tailback Andre Hairston, Smith ran for 177 yards and four touchdowns as Salem defeated William Byrd 27-7 in front of a large Monday night crowd in Vinton.

Hairston, who rushed for 257 yards two weeks ago, was held out because of a mild ankle sprain. Smith, a junior who split time at wide receiver and tailback in the team's first two games, filled in brilliantly as the Spartans (3-0) broke a three-game losing streak in this series.

"I didn't find out until right before the game started," Smith said. "My reaction was, 'I finally get my chance.'

"This was my first game really touching the ball."

He knew what to do with it. He scored a touchdown in each quarter - on runs of 27, 34, 1 and 57 yards respectively - and showed the breakaway speed that made him a Region III champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters last spring.

"He's a great back," Salem offensive lineman Teddy Dyer said. "It's almost a shame sometimes that two great backs like that have to play so close together and couldn't be spaced out [in years]. When you need him, he's there."

Dyer is the only returning starter on a Salem line that continues to produce. In addition to opening holes for Smith, the line provided stellar protection for quarterback Matt Shawver, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 118 yards.

"I'm just fortunate to have a quarterback like that coming into this system," said first-year Salem coach Stephen Magenbauer, who favors the spread offense. "He's done a great job for us. And with our backs running well, that really helps out your passing game."

Byrd's passing game has been almost nonexistent following the graduation loss of Jeff Highfill. The Terriers (1-2) got 124 rushing yards from Billy Ray Welch and moved the ball well all night on the ground, but they only passed the ball twice Monday.

Both throws resulted in interceptions.

"We're starting all over at quarterback," Byrd coach Jeff Highfill said. "We've got a couple of running backs that we're making into quarterbacks. Landon Johnson's going to be a real good one, but he's only a freshman right now.

"There's a lot of work to be done, obviously."

Byrd's lone touchdown came in the second quarter, when senior Aaron Conner barreled in from a yard out. Conner finished with 94 yards on 17 carries.

Salem 7 7 7 6 - 27

William Byrd 0 7 0 0 - 7

S-Smith 27 run (Hall kick)

WB-Conner 1 run (Frazier kick)

S-Smith 34 run (Hall kick)

S-Smith 1 run (Hall kick)

S-Smith 57 run (kick failed)

Salem Byrd

First downs 18 17

Yards rushing 227 244

Passes C-A-I 12-14-0 0-2-2

Yards passing 118 0

Penalties-yards 5-41 4-32

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1

Punts-average 2-37 1-33

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Salem, Smith 18-177, Daniels 5-32, Shawver 4-11, Pickle 1-7; William Byrd, Welch 23-124, Conner 17-94, Stafford 1-7, Spradlin 1-6, Johnson 2-(-13).

PASSING - Salem, Shawver 12-14-0-118; William Byrd, Welch 0-1-1-0, Johnson 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING - Salem, Pickle 4-37, Hanabury 4-33, Spradlin 2-29, Smith 2-19.