Saturday, September 12, 2009
Spartans down rare foe
Salem players say Internet postings on Virginia Preps motivated them against the Eagles.
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ROCKY MOUNT -- Salem and Franklin County had not played a football game against each other in 18 years until Friday night.
The Spartans made the Eagles wait a little longer for a victory.
Kirk Coles rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns, while linebacker Seth Fisher led a defense that limited Franklin County to 86 yards on the ground as Timesland's top-ranked team escaped Cy Dillon Stadium with a 29-14 victory.
Fisher, who forced two fumbles and recovered one to set up a critical third-quarter touchdown, said the Spartans (2-0) were motivated by comments from anonymous posters during the week on an Internet message board.
"We came in here as kind of the underdog from reading everything," Fisher said. "It was basically on the computer on Virginia Preps, where basically each individual from their town and our town writes."
Not all of Fisher's time was spent on line. His work in the film room helped him make perhaps the game's biggest play.
With Franklin County trailing 15-6 and facing a third-and-5 at the Salem 25 on the opening series of the second half, Fisher read a pitchout from Eagles quarterback T.J. Shaw and deflected the ball before recovering it.
Two plays later, Coles was in the end zone on a 33-yard run for a 22-6 lead.
"I think we're a successful team because we study film a lot and we know when they're running certain plays," Fisher said. "We set up a blitz when they were running the quick pitch. I knew it was coming and expected to get the ball. I went for the ball instead of the tackle."
It was the home debut for and the first game ever against Salem for first-year Eagles coach Chris Jones, who is well aware of what it takes to knock off the Spartans.
"They're not going to beat themselves, that's for sure," said Jones, who won VHSL state titles at Bath County and Heritage. "You've got to beat them square-up."
Franklin County (1-1) committed seven penalties in the first half, two that aided Salem TD drives.
"It's hard to explain," Jones said. "Some penalties you understand, some you don't. Jumping offsides, those are the ones you don't. We did that God knows how many times in the first half."
Salem, stifled on the ground last week in a 35-0 win at Lord Botetourt, got its running game off the ground.
Coles scored on runs of 33 and 9 yards in the first half, and Daniel Dyer added a clinching 16-yarder with 11:13 to play.
"We got together as a team this week," offensive lineman Kyle Wilson said. "We were more serious ... all of us."
Franklin County also had no answer for Salem receiver Stephen Barnette, who had all five of the Spartans receptions for 94 yards, including a 32-yarder on a lob from Adam McGarrell that set up Coles' second-half TD.
"It doesn't matter how tall you are if you'll go after the ball," Salem coach Stephen Magenbauer said. "He just attacks the football. The height is just a big bonus.
"Who knows? Maybe we coulda, shoulda used him a little more last year, but he really has come on. He's confident. He's a senior. He's definitely a big weapon."
Running back Tae Gilbert had a big night operating behind Franklin County's massive offensive line. Gilbert ran for 78 yards on 24 carries and had three receptions for 107 yards, including a 77-yard strike from Shaw in the first half. He also scored on a 1-yard run.
"[Gilbert] is as good a back as we'll see all year," Magenbauer said. "He's got good wheels. We just tried to force the action."
Salem 0 15 7 7--29
Franklin County 0 6 8 0--14
S -- Coles 33 run (Shelton kick)
FC -- Gilbert 77 pass from Shaw (kick failed)
S -- Coles 9 run (Houchin pass from Sturgill)
S -- Coles 33 run (Shelton kick)
FC -- Gilbert 1 run (C. Hughes from Shaw)
S -- Dyer 16 run (Shelton kick)
S FC
First downs 18 12
Yards rushing 41-220 37-86
Passes C-A-I 5-10-0 6-19-0
Yards passing 94 164
Penalties-yards 5-40 8-70
Fumbles-lost 4-2 2-1
Punts-average 3-31 3-42
Individual statistics
RUSHING -- Salem, Coles 17-138, Dyer 8-45, Collie 7-19, Daniels 4-12, McGarrell 3-10, Team 2-(minus-4). Franklin County, Gilbert 24-78, Spencer 5-10, Shaw 8-4.
PASSING -- Salem, McGarrell 5-10-0-94. Franklin County, Shaw 6-19-0-164.
RECEIVING -- Salem, S. Barnette 5-94. Franklin County, Gilbert 3-107, T. Basham 2-51, Keys 1-6.
