Salem win over Patrick Henry worth the wait

The big question is why did they wait so long?

Salem and Patrick Henry played their first varsity football game against each other in 18 years Friday night and it was worth the wait.

In an instant classic, Salem overcame a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit with two touchdowns in the final eight minutes to post a 28-21 victory over the Patriots in Salem Stadium.

Salem (2-0), ranked No. 2 in Timesland, trailed third-ranked PH 21-14 until Devante Payne tied the game on a 1-yard run with 7:56 to play and Coleman Fox added the winning TD on a 12-yard scamper with 4:48 left.

The victory raised the Spartans’ regular-season home record to 44-2 in the last nine-plus seasons, giving head coach Stephen Magenbauer his 99th victory as Salem’s head coach.

Just another night on the job.

“We play a lot of classics around here, you know?” Magenbauer said. “A lot of tight ones. You just never know how games are going to turn out.”

PH (1-1) appeared poised for a huge road win as the Patriots led 21-14 and had possession midway through the fourth quarter after an interception by Terry Jones at the Patriots 25-yard line.

However, PH coughed the ball up on the next play as Rasheed Whorley fumbled and Tyler Fedison recovered for Salem at the 18.

Three plays later, Payne atoned for a third-quarter fumble that led to PH’s go-ahead touchdown with a 1-yard TD run that tied the game at 21-all.

“Fumbles happen,” Payne said. “Plays are going to happen. Things are going to happen in a game. It’s how you react to them. Players are going to make big plays.”

Salem got the biggest one on Patrick Henry’s next series.

PH, which outgained the Spartans 244-201, nearly took the lead on the ensuing drive as sophomore quarterback Quishon Calfee hit Cortez Ogden for a 37-yard gain on the first play.

Ogden broke free and appeared to be headed for a touchdown before he was overtaken by cramps and fell down at the Salem 32.

“I felt it coming on during the play,” said Ogden, who caught seven passes for 71 yards. “Both of my legs just locked up on me.”

PH moved to the Salem 9 where the Patriots faced a second-and-1. Calfee rolled out and looked to the end zone, but a player with a huge link to the Spartans’ past stepped in to save the game.

Isaiah Parker, whose uncle Marcus Parker starred as a running back for the Spartans before enjoying a stellar career at Virginia Tech, jumped in front of Calfee’s lob, made the interception and returned the ball all the way to the PH 25.

“I was locked down on the last man of the line of scrimmage,” Parker said. ”I read pass. I knew he was going to do an out. I broke on it. My eyes lit up. I did have a brief moment where I was hoping it didn’t go over my head. Luckily, I got there.”

Parker, whose father, Vince, also is a former Salem standout, was living a dream. He caught a 20-yard TD pass in the first half from Austin Coulling for a 14-7 halftime lead.

“I came to the games when I was little,” Parker said. “I always dreamed of playing for them. I worked hard to get here. I’m glad I could make plays like that.”

Salem still needed a touchdown. It took just five plays as Fox, the son of former Virginia Tech fullback Rich Fox, scored the game-winner on a 12-yard run around left end with 4:48 left, the last of his game-high 65 rushing yards.

Cody Peregoy, who minutes earlier had committed a personal foul penalty, iced the game with an interception.

“Cody’s a tough, tough player,” Magenbauer said. “We got on him a little bit, maybe too much, and he came back and responded.”

Calfee, who replaced starting QB Anthony Merritt in the second quarter, had a solid game. His only two incompletions were the second-half pickoffs.

“He’s just got to do a better job learning the plays and getting comfortable with the offense,” PH coach Alan Fiddler said of Calfee. “But he made some nice plays as well.”

Trevor Mike rushed for a pair of PH touchdowns. The Patriots also scored in the first quarter when Salem punter Kyle Reighard dropped a low snap and tried to punt from his own end zone, but the ball went straight in the air and Marcus Terry caught it for a TD.

“We’re a good football team,” Fiddler said. “We’ve just got to clean things up. I think we’re going to win a bunch of games. They played their butts off against a really good football team. I’m excited about our guys.”

PH and Salem returned to each other’s schedules when the Patriots were placed in the River Ridge District as part of VHSL reclassification. It won’t take another 18 years before the next meeting.

“It’s going to be a good game for years to come,” Parker said. “I can’t wait to play them next year.”

Patrick Henry 7 0 14 0—21

Salem 14 0 0 14—28

Sal — Payne 1 run (Reighard kick)

PH — M.Terry caught punt in end zone (Davidson kick)

Sal — Parker 20 pass from Coulling (Reighard kick)

PH — Mike 16 run (Davidson kick)

PH — Mike 9 run (Davidson kick)

Sal — Payne 1 run (Reighard kick)

Sal — Fox 12 run (Reighard kick)

PH SA

First downs 15 15

Yards rushing 29-109 46-132

Passes C-A-I 14-23-2 6-9-1

Yards passing 135 69

Penalties-yards 6-68 4-38

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1

Punts-average 3-34.0 4-26.8

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Patrick Henry, Mike 9-47, T.Terry 4-26, Whorley 5-14, Tucker 1-10, Calfee 7-9, Thompson 2-4, Merritt 1-(-1). Salem, Fox 14-65, Hunt 11-38, Payne 14-38, Womack 4-14, Coulling 3-(-23).

PASSING — Patrick Henry, Calfee 10-15-2-97, Ogden 1-1-0-25, Merritt 3-8-0-13. Salem, Coulling 6-9-1-69.

RECEIVING — Patrick Henry, Ogden 7-71, B.Comer 2-32, M.Terry 2-19, T.Terry 1-16, Tucker 1-(-1), Whorley 1-(-2). Salem, Parker2-25, Gladden 2-22, Hunt 1-15, Payne 1-7.

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