Local Sports

Quakers snap skid against Canfield

SALEM -- Salem celebrated one of its best regular-season wins in several years as the Quakers knocked off tradition-rich Canfield 21-17 before a large crowd at Sebo Stadium Friday night.

"I just love our team and everything they're about," said Salem head coach Ron Johnson. "I'm just so doggone proud of them."

The pulsating win included a defensive stand with 1:33 left after Canfield had driven from its own 15 with 8:30 showing to the Quakers' 7. But on fourth and three, a pack of Quaker defenders swarmed the Cardinals' run play at the 7.

The Quakers then ran out the clock and the celebration was on as Salem head coach Ron Johnson pumped his fists in the air, soaking in every minute of the triumph.

"We had to show character at the end," said Johnson. "That's two weeks in a row where our defense has stepped up and made plays in the hot zone."

With the win, Salem is now 2-0 and off to its best start since the 2022 season when it opened the season at 3-0. Canfield leads the all-time series with Salem, 29-10-1. Salem's last win in the series was a 28-12 win over the Cardinals in 1990 at then Reilly Stadium. Prior to Friday night, Salem and Canfield hadn't played since the 2007 season.

"It's incredible what happens when you stay together, play together and love each other and believe, and these guys believe in themselves, they believe in the program and I believe they're going to be champions," said Johnson. 

Canfield, which only dressed 29 players for Friday's game due to injuries, fell to 0-2 on the season.

Salem, fresh off its big 21-17 comeback triumph over Poland,

scored first in the early-season showdown. After recovering a fumbled Canfield punt at the Cardinals' 32, Salem capitalized on a two-yard scoring run by Brandon Kana. Kicker Ronin Sutter added the PAT kick and the Quakers took a 7-0 lead at the 4:38 mark of the first period.

But Canfield answered the score after AJ Economous returned 

a Salem punt 71 yards to the Quakers' 21. Canfield scored moments later on an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback DJ Porter to receiver Luke Berardino. Kicker Luke Goodrich booted the PAT kick to tie the score at 7-7 with 2:20 left in the opening quarter.

But Salem took the lead into the halftime locker room after quarterback-receiver Bairon Exline hit Owen Davidson with a 15-yard scoring toss with just 20 seconds left before halftime. Sutter added the PAT kick and the Quakers led at the break 14-7.

Salem's offense outgained the Cardinals 128-40 in the first half and 245-241 for the game.

Salem started to put some distance between itself and the Cardinals early in the second half. On its opening series of the second half, the Quakers marched 60 yards and scored on a 35-yard fourth down touchdown pass from Gelonese to Owen Davidson down the left sideline. Sutter added the PAT boot and Salem took a 21-7 lead at the 6:59 mark of the third quarter.

Davidson had a big night with four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

"It feels great to beat Canfield," said Davidson. "We're 2-0 and we're in great shape. I want to win a championship with this team."

Canfield again closed the gap, scoring on a three-yard pass from Porter to Pat Groner on a three-yard pass on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Goodrich added the PAT kick and the Cardinals pulled within 21-14.

Canfield trimmed the deficit on its next drive when Goodrich booted a 26-yard field goal, pulling Canfield within 21-17 with 8:36 left.

But minutes later, Salem's defense slammed the door on Canfield's last drive to seal its thrilling win.

"It took all of us to do what we did," said Johnson. "We rolled guys in on defense all night and had different packages on offense."


Game notes

Salem is back in action next Friday when the Quakers entertain longtime Columbiana County rival East Liverpool at Sebo Stadium.

"We're home two more weeks in a row and would love to have people come out and see these guys, I'm very proud of them," closed Johnson.

Canfield has a big task on its hands next Friday when it plays Division V powerhouse Youngstown Cardinal Mooney at Youngstown State's Stambaugh Stadium.

Gelonese completed 




CA:7-0-0-10 -- 17

SA :7-7-7-0 -- 21

SCORING

S--Brandon Kana 2 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

C--Luke Barardino 11 pass from DJ Porter (Luke Goodrich kick)

S--Owen Davidson 15 pass from Bairon Exline (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Owen Davidson 35 pass from Adrian Gelonese (Ronin Sutter kick)

C --Pat Kroner 3 pass from DJ Porter (Luke Goodrich kick)

C--Luke Goodrich 26 FG

TEAM STATS

Canfield

First downs: 15; Total yards: 241; Rushes-yards: 25-53; Passing: 188; Comp-Att-Int. 17-23-0; Punts 5-33; Fumbles-Lost 1-1; Penalties-Yards 4-30

Salem

First downs: 17, Total yards 245, Rushes-yards 36-112, Passing 133 Comp-Att-Int. 12-16-133-2-0, Punts 5-35, Fumbles-Lost 0, Penalties-Yards 5-60

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING--Canfield, D.J. Porter, 7-11, Gabe Miller, 16-42; Salem, Brandon Kana 21-59, Adrian Gelonese 2-2, Bairon Exline, 8-43, Chase Golech 1-1.

PASSING--Canfield, D.J. Porter 17-22-189-2-0; Salem, Adrian Gelonese, 11-15-105-1-0; Bairon Exline, 1-1-15-1-0.

RECEIVING--Canfield, Matthew Campbell 3-33, AJ Economous 2-35, Luke Berardino, 7-77, Gabe Miller, 2-14, Patrick Groner, 1-3, Jackson Kemble, 2-26; Salem, Bairon Exline 7-40, Owen Davidson 3-58, Jaxson Douglas, 1-17.