Eagles shut out Tigers, 36-0

Salem fell to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the SCA. Liberty improved to 6-2 and 4-2.

The Tigers end the regular season by playing at Cabool Friday, Oct. 24 in another league game (7 p.m. kickoff).

Salem is still hopeful of hosting the first round of the Class 3 District 5 playoffs, which begin Oct. 31.

In the current District 5 standings, Mountain Grove is in first place at 7-1 with 45.09 points, Clever second at 6-2 with 37.36 points, St. James third at 3-5 with 28.11 points, Strafford fourth at 2-6 with 21.30 points, Salem fifth at 2-6 with 20.82 points, Buffalo sixth at 2-6 with 19.61 points and Pleasant Hope seventh at 0-8 with 10.03 points.

Friday, while the Liberty defense bottled up Salem’s offense, the Eagles swooped in to score five touchdowns.

Liberty got two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in the first period and was in control the rest of the way.

The Eagles moved their normal quarterback, senior Parker Tune, to wideout and replaced him at signal-caller with his brother, freshman Graham Tune.

And the Parker boys teamed up for the first TD, as Graham hit Parker with a 25-yard scoring toss. Senior Jaren Rutledge scored the second touchdown in the opening period on a four-yard run.

After a scoreless second period it was 16-0 at intermission.

Liberty struck again to open the second half, getting third-quarter TDs on a three-yard run by Rutledge and a one-yard pass from Graham Tune to Parker Tune. The Eagles ended the scoring with a four-yard TD run by senior wideout Jasper Melby.

“They came out and established the line of scrimmage and we never bounced back from it,” said Salem head coach Neal Myers. “They came out in a 5-2 (defensive) look and played multiple defenses. They just were getting off the ball faster and quicker than we were. Their kids were flying around.”

Salem had 132 yards of total offense. Junior running back Sylis DuBois rushed for 37 yards to lead the Tiger ground game while senior quarterback Hayden Ragsdale hit on 6-of-11 passes for 48 yards. Senior Gavin Sapaugh returned an interception 50 yards and junior Max Schloemer made nine tackles for the Tigers.

Now the Tigers have a dress rehearsal for district this week at Cabool. And Salem will go into the game trying to round into peak form.

“Depending on how we play, it could be a major confidence booster,” Myers said. “For us, we’ve got to get back to the basics in getting ready for districts.”

Oct. 17 at Mountain View

Liberty 36, Salem 0

The score by periods:

Salem 0 0 0 0- 0

Liberty 16 0 14 6-36

The scoring plays:

Liberty: P. Tune 25-yard pass from G. Tune, Rutledge passes to Melby for conversion.

Liberty: Rutledge four-yard run, G. Tune passes to Smotherman for conversion.

Liberty: Rutledge three-yard run, kick.

Liberty: P. Tune one-yard pass from G. tune, kick.

Liberty: Melby four-yard run, kick fails.

Salem Individual Statistics

Rushing: DuBois 9 for 37, May 9 for 21, Malone 2 for 17, Ray 11 for 15, Ragsdale 5 for minus-6.

Passing: Ragsdale 6-11-48-0.

Receiving: Sapaugh 3 for 28, May 1 for 5, Ray 1 for 2, Halinar 1 for 13.

Tackle Leaders: Schloemer 4 (solos)-5 (assists), Sapaugh 6-1, Barton 3-0, White 3-0.

Interceptions: Sapaugh 1 for 50.

QB Sacks: White 1.

Fumble Recoveries: Barton 1.