varsity.roanoke.com

Marcus Yam | The Roanoke Times

Salem quarterback Derrick Hickman runs ahead of several Christiansburg defenders on the way to a first down on Friday night at Salem Stadium. The Spartans won the game 25-0. For more photos, check out sosalem.com

Christiansburg's Keith Johnson is tackled by Salem's Jonathan Walker on Friday night. It was the River Ridge District opener for both teams.

Salem's Antonio Medley is tackled in the Christiansburg secondary during Friday night's game at Salem Stadium. Medley rushed for 44 yards in the Spartan's 25-0 win over the Blue Demons. For more photos go to soalem.com

All the Spartans wanted was nothing.

And that's exactly what they got. Salem held Christiansburg without a first down in the first half and without a score all night to earn its first shutout of the season -- a 25-0 rout of the Blue Demons -- in the River Ridge District opener for both teams at Salem Stadium on Friday night.

"We were really trying to get a shutout," said Salem senior linebacker Jonathan Walker. "We've had all the bits and pieces, and we finally put it together."

Salem held the Blue Demons to 39 rushing yards, 23 passing yards and forced nine punts.

"We couldn't move the ball," said Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer, whose team fell to 4-2 overall.

Salem didn't have that problem. Quarterback Derrick Hickman completed nine of 14 pass attempts for 170 yards, including a 25-yard strike to Donte Harvey, and ran for 68 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Harvey also ran 27 yards for a score.

Linebacker Zak Pritchett also scored for the Spartans (5-1, 1-0), diving on a fumble in the Christiansburg end zone. Stephen Barnette intercepted a pass for Salem and Kyle Schwizer broke up two more.

Twice Hickman had wide open receivers drop passes on the goal line, and the Spartans also fumbled the ball away once in the first half. Christiansburg's Chris Smith blocked a 32-yard field goal try and two extra points.

Salem kicker Robert Powell later missed a 34-yard attempt.

"We still left some points on the field," Salem coach Steve Magenbauer said, adding that the Spartans had not had kicking problems before.

But the Spartans didn't give Christiansburg (4-2, 0-1) many opportunities to look back and wonder "what if?"

"We played disciplined defense," Magenbauer said. "It was a good, team defensive effort."

Ordinarily, if a defense stretches itself out to stop the sweep, it makes itself vulnerable to runs straight up the gut. That didn't happen to Salem.

"They whipped us at the point of attack, whether it was at the sidelines or inside," Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer said. "They're faster and stronger than we are."

Also, Cromer noted, when plays broke down for his young team, they simply broke down. Hickman managed to turn a fumbled snap into a 44-yard scamper.

"We've got to learn to make plays when we have the chance to make plays," Cromer said.

Of course, the Spartans were right there waiting to keep the Demons from making those plays.

Walker said it was because the Spartans "played as a team," something that has been lacking in previous games.

The improvement, Walker said, came in practice.

"We hit 'em hard in practice until they get tired of getting hit and they start hitting back," Walker said. "That produces on Friday nights."

Christiansburg 0 0 0 0--0

Salem 6 12 7 0--25

S-- Hickman 6 run (kick blocked)

S-- Harvey 27 run (kick failed)

S--Harvey 25 pass from Hickman (kick blocked)

S--Pritchett fumble recovery in end zone (Powell kick)

CH SA

First downs 4 15

Yards rushing 30-29 44-215

Passes C-A-I 4-12-1 9-14-0

Yards passing 23 170

Penalties-yards 3-35 3-25

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1

Punts-average 9-36.7 3-35.7

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Christiansburg Wills 4-(-6), Lee 7-3, Fisher 8-10, Johnson 10-32, Palmer 1-0. Salem Hickman 12-68, Coles 12-72, Medley 14-44, Harvey 1-27, Dyer 2-(-1), Goad 3-5.

PASSING -- Christiansburg Wills 4-12-1-23. Salem Hickman 9-14-0-170.

RECEIVING -- Christiansburg Johnson 2-7, Smith 2-16. Salem Tolliver 2-43, Dyer 3-47, Cox 1-3, Walker 1-32, Harvey 2-39.

Bobcats knock off Giles

Radford comes to life in the second half, coming back from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat the Spartans 35-28.

Cougars top Titans to open district play

The Pulaski County quarterback, playing in his first River Ridge District game, runs for a touchdown and throws for another, leading the Cougars to a 28-16 win over Hidden Valley.

Blacksburg 28, Cave Spring 14

William Fleming 7, Franklin County 6

Eastern Montgomery 26, Auburn 0

Halifax County 35, Patrick Henry 21

William Byrd 28, Patrick County 20

James River 35, Covington 0

North Cross 54, Fishburne 0

Floyd County 35, Glenvar 6