The Salem Tigers busted through with their first football victory of the season Friday, Sept. 5.
They hope it’s the first of many.
Scoring in every quarter, the Tigers led from start to finish in a 26-8 non-conference victory over Linn Friday, Sept. 5 at Linn.
Salem improves its record to 1-1 while Linn fell to 0-2 after losing to Cuba 32-30 in its opener.
It is only the fourth year the Linn Wildcats have had a football program, and only the second season with a varsity team. The Wildcats finished 1-9 in their initial varsity schedule in 2024.
A couple of big-yardage plays set the tone for Salem over the first half.
The Tigers took the lead when junior running back Sylis DuBois grabbed a pass from senior quarterback Hayden Ragsdale and was gone for a 67-yard touchdown reception. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
It was 6-0 going into the second period, but DuBois would strike again, taking a handoff and ripping off 46 yards for another TD. Again the conversion fell short.
It was 12-0 at intermission.
The Tigers would add to their advantage by capping a third-quarter scoring drive with a five-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Cason Malone. The conversion fails.
And Salem would make it 26-0 with its final TD in the fourth period, as Alton May scored on a six-yard run. Malone ran in the two-point conversion.
The Tigers just missed pulling out a shutout, as the Wildcats scored with three seconds remaining on a one-yard plunge, then ran in the two-point conversion.
“It’s always good to have that success,” said Salem head coach Neal Myers. “We saw a lot more positives this week, to evolve and grow from. We had some explosive plays. DuBois, anytime he touches the ball he could go all the way. Sylis is dangerous. He is explosive, and Brody (Ray) and May can also be.
“Defensively we wanted to make sure we were aligned and assigned. The kids’ effort was there; they’re going 100 miles-an-hour. As a whole I thought we played extremely well.”
Salem is set to open South-Central Association play this week, traveling to Houston Friday. Kickoff in the battle of SCA Tigers is set for 7 p.m.
Houston has opened 1-1, beating Pierce City 42-20 Aug. 29 and last week losing at Springfield Catholic 41-35.
“They do the same type of stuff; they try to outnumber you,” Myers said of Houston. “They’ve got some athletes. Defensively they play a 3-4 (base) and they have players in spots who can make plays. Offensively their quarterback is willing to take off running. They have shown they can move the ball; they’re averaging 38.5 points a game now.”
Houston senior quarterback DJ Riley has hit on 13-of-23 passes for 240 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 88 yards and two TDs. Senior tight end Mason Dodson has caught five passes for 87 yards.
Leading the Houston ground game is freshman running back Tucker Venn, who has 128 yards on 22 carries and three TDs; junior running back Aaron McCarthy with 116 yards on 29 carries, and senior running back Caden Guerra with 80 yards on 11 attempts.
Venn, a linebacker, is the team’s leading tackler with 18 while Dodson, a linebacker, and junior linebacker Cason Woolsey each have 15 and senior end Tobias Head 11. Venn also has two interceptions.
Sept. 5 at Linn
Salem 26, Linn 8
The score by periods:
Salem 6 6 6 8-26
Linn 0 0 0 8- 8
The scoring plays:
Salem: DuBois 67-yard pass from Ragsdale, conversion fails.
Salem: DuBois 46-yard run, conversion fails.
Salem: Malone five-yard run, conversion fails.
Salem: May six-yard run, Malone runs in conversion.
Linn: One-yard run; runs in conversion.
Salem Statistics
Rushing: DuBois 6 for 75, Ray 7 for 47, Malone 8 for 29, May 4 for 36, Ragsdale 6 for 10, Deason 1 for minus-19.
Passing: Ragsdale 2-8-82-0.
Receiving: DuBois 1 for 67, May 1 for 15.
