Salem wins 20-18 thriller in final seconds in 100th meeting with Penns Grove (PHOTOS)

  • 09/23 - 12:00 PM FootballFinal
    Salem 20
    Penns Grove 18
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CARNEYS POINT – Being a tall, big man, Montrey Wright certainly loves to E.A.T.

Effort. Attitude. Toughness.

"That's what we stand for," the Salem High football head coach said after his team rallied for 20 fourth-quarter points, with the decisive score coming with 16.9 seconds left, to pull out a 20-18 victory over Penns Grove in front of a police-estimated crowd of 1,500 at Jim Devonshire Field Saturday.

“Coming into today’s game we wanted to have effort, because last week we didn’t give effort the way we needed to, so today we wanted to finish it and play with effort. We wanted to be physical, because we knew it was going to be a physical game with these guys. So we came in and wanted to do that too.”

After stopping Penns Grove on a 4th-and-3 at their 25 with 2:08 remaining, the Rams marched down the field for the game-winning drive. It took 11 plays, and Penns Grove transfer Ja’Yon Mejias scored on the quarterback sneak to tie the game.

Senior running back Zaire Jones (24 carries for 177 yards) scored on the two-point conversion to cap a huge comeback. Salem appeared as though it was heading towards being shut out.

“We had faith,” said Mejias who sat out last season after transferring to Salem from Penns Grove. “We all believed in each other. We bought in during the last minute of the game. Throughout the whole game, we had each other’s back. We were hungry for it. It’s a rivalry, for bragging rights. We just wanted to come out with the win.”

In a series dating back to 1912, this was the 100th meeting between the two schools. Penns Grove leads 52-42-6, but Salem has won four of the last five games.

Penns Grove (2-1, 1-1 in West Jersey Football League Diamond Division) led 6-0 at the break. The score came just 2:58 into the game. Tyreke Brown passed to a wide-open Kavon Lewis for a 19-yard score. The Red Devils could have had more, but Brown had a 77-yard punt return called back by multiple penalties.

“We made way too many mistakes,” head coach John Emel said. “Give (the Rams) credit for playing hard. They have good players. The whole team made plays, but the penalties, missed execution falls on me as the coach. We will correct those things. It was uncharacteristic of us.”

DaeShawn Seals intercepted a lateral and scored from 17 yards out to make it 12-0 Penns Grove. Salem (2-1, 2-0) finally got on the scoreboard with 10:29 remaining when Jones broke tackles en route to a 56-yard score. But the momentum appeared quickly lost when Brown returned the kickoff 61 yards to make it 18-6 with 10:13 to go.

Salem didn’t back down and responded with a 10-play, 50-yard drive which used just 3:47. Jones scored from a yard out with 6:24 to go. Penns Grove tried to milk the clock and got down to the Salem 25 for a 2nd-and-3. After three tries, it couldn’t get one more first down which would have iced the game.

Salem took over with 2:08 remaining. Mejias hit Justin Harris for a big 20-yard completion. Mejias also had a 17-yard scramble. Two Penns Grove personal-foul penalties also aided Salem.

“Playing my old school as a transfer, there was a lot of talking going back and forth,” Mejias said. “I didn’t start off the season really well due to injuries, but I managed to pull through today.”

Added Wright, “This was a homecoming for Mejias. He wanted this game more than anybody today. He sat a whole year last year, so he is finally getting a rhythm now. He’s getting better at quarterback every week. He’s given me everything that I need. He will continue to get better and make progress. Our team will continue to get better.”

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