Salem’s Chase Prendergast (58)blocks Padua’s Brandon Homady on Friday at Sebo Stadium. Also shown is David Manges (76). (Photo by Gary Leininger)

SALEM — Salem scored its most points in a game this season, but the Quakers were unable to contain Parma Padua’s standout running back Roderick Love who rushed for 281 yards and five touchdowns as the Bruins defeated the Quakers 39-21 in their homecoming game at Sebo Stadium Friday night.

Youthful Salem, which is playing without seven injured starters, including several who have been lost for the season, is 0-5 on the season.

Salem coach Ron Johnson loved that his team kept fighting and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

“We’re going to continue to play as hard as we can every second we’ve got,” said Johnson. “I’m real happy with the kids who stepped in for those that got injured tonight.”

With the win, the Bruins, whose losses were to unbeaten Youngstown Ursuline and Columbus Bishop Watterson as well as Sandusky, improved to 2-3.

Padua coach Kevin Kubit knows he has a big-time talent in his senior running back Roderick Love.

“Rod Love is a special talent,” he said. “He’s not going to take all the credit. He understands that all the credit goes to the guys up front and the tight ends and receivers on the outside.”

Love had a big first half to give the Bruins an 8-0 lead after one quarter and a 23-7 advantage at halftime. The Bruins’ star running back rushed for 160 yards on 17 carries in the first half alone and scored on runs of 18, 20 and 33 yards. The Bruins also scored on a pair of conversions out of the swinging gate formation on a run by Gio DiSiena and on a pass from DiSiena to Gio Roman.

Trailing 16-0 in the second quarter, Salem scored its first touchdown of the night when running back Marcus Phillips capped a 55-yard Salem march with a two-yard scoring run around the right side. Kicker Troy Gibson added the PAT and the Quakers’ cut into the Bruins’ lead at 16-7 with 7:18 showing before the break.

“Our defense and our defensive staff (deserve praise),” said Kubit. “They put in hours of work and all 11 guys on the defense (played well). Now we just have to keep it going.”

Padua led 233-117 in total offense at half.

“We can use every single rep this year to get better and better for their future,” said Johnson. “That’s what we’ve got to continue to do.”

The Bruins padded their advantage to 36-7 when Love broke free of scoring jaunts of 48 and 69 yards in the third quarter.

The Bruins then briefly began a running clock when kicker Caleb Zolkowski booted a 25-yard field goal, giving the visitors a 39-7 advantage with 7:41 showing in the fourth quarter.

But Salem fought back and answered the Bruins with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 47-yard scoring run around right end by running back Marcus Phillips and a 9-yard scoring run around left end by quarterback Cletis Monroy with 2:43 remaining to cut the final deficit to 18 points, including a pair of successful conversion boots by Troy Gibson.

“We’re going to continue to work because a lot of these guys who are playing now have two more years in our program and they know what their goals are,” said Johnson.

Padua led in total offense, 424-312, led by Love’s 281 yards, while running back Mike Banks added 60 yards on eight carries.

“Today was about playing fundamental football and not making crucial mistakes and we did that tonight,” said Kubit.

Salem had 204 yards on the ground, paced by Monroy with 118 yards on 25 carries and Phillips with 83 yards on 10 rushes.

Salem’s two-year contract with Padua has ended, as the series finished at 1-1. The Quakers defeated the Bruins, 23-21, on a thrilling last-second field goal last season in Parma.

The Padua Week 5 slot for Salem will be filled by Beaver Local starting next season. The Beavers have agreed to move their Week 2 contract with Salem to Week 5, so Salem could sign a new home-and-home Week 2 pact with South Range. The Quakers and Raiders will play for the first time in football next season.

Game notes

The Quakers begin Eastern Buckeye Conference play Friday night against Alliance at Mount Union Stadium.

“I haven’t seen them on film yet, I understand they’re really good, the quarterback’s a great player and very talented, so we’ll get on the film tonight and start breaking it down,” said Johnson.

PADUA: 8-15-13- 3–39

SALEM : 0- 7- 0-14–21

SCORING

P–Roderick Love 18 run, 10:02 1st (Gio DiSiena run)

P–Roderick Love 20 run, 11:24 2nd (Gio Roman pass from Gio DiSiena)

S–Marcus Phillips 2 run, 7:18 2nd (Troy Gibson kick)

P–Roderick Love 33 run, 4:41 2nd (Caleb Zolkowski kick)

P–Roderick Love 48 run, 9:08 3rd (Caleb Zolkowski kick)

P–Roderick Love 69 run, 2:42 3rd (Run failed)

P Caleb Zolkowski 25 field goal, 7:41 4th

S–Marcus Phillips, 47 run, 6:57 4th (Troy Gibson kick)

S–Cletis Monroy 9 run, 2:43 4th (Troy Gibson kick)

P S

First downs 22 15

Total yards 424 312

Rushes-yards 35-370 40-204

Passing 54 110

Comp-Att-Int 3-9-0 12-20-0

Punts-Avg. 4-35 5-30

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-50 8-65

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Padua, Roderick Love 22-281, Nick Barker 3-19, Mike Banks 8-60; Salem, Cletis Monroy 25-118, Marcus Phillips 10-83, Owen Spatz 3-3.

PASSING — Padua, Nick Barker 3-9-60-0-0; Salem, Cletis Monroy, 12-20-124-0-0 .

RECEIVING –Padua, Gio DiSiena 2-47; Salem, Derek Oesch 3-34, Hunter Prendergast 2-24, Marcus Phillips 6-39, Will Harmon 1-15.