Big Red pulls from Salem in the second half

By Chuck Housteau

NEW PHILADELPHIA — It was a first half that the Salem Quakers will cherish for a long time.

Despite being a heavy underdog against the second-ranked team in Division III, the Quakers totally outplayed Steubenville in the first 24 minutes and owned a 10-6 lead at the break.

However, the second half was all Steubenville quarterback Dwight Macon, who scored four touchdowns, including three in the second half, as Big Red rallied from the four-point deficit to turn back the Quakers, 28-10, in a Region 9 semifinal game at Woody Hayes Stadium.

Macon also rushed for 202 yards.

“We had one of the best teams, if not the best team in the state of Ohio on the ropes in the first half,” said Salem coach Mike Kopachy. “To go into halftime with the lead, we didn’t want that to be a moral victory.

“We wanted to come out and finish it off.”

The Quakers surprised Steubenville with a sterling first half of football.

Salem (9-3) parlayed three turnovers and an efficient offensive attack into the four-point lead that had a large Steubenville crowd stunned.

The Quakers got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter after Toothman intercepted Steubenville quarterback Dwight Macon and returned it 21 yards to the Big Red 17.

Five plays later on third and goal from the 2-yard line, Toothman connected with Justin Adams for a touchdown with just 12 seconds left in the quarter.

Salem’s defense was outstanding in the half in keeping Macon bottled up and was opportunistic when needed.

The Quakers turned back Big Red on a fourth down at the nine but then Macon found the end zone on Steubenville’s next possession.

Macon scored on a 7-yard run but the extra point attempt was bothched and Salem owned a 7-6 lead.

The Quakers dominated the rest of the half and actually missed a 42-yard field goal by Ben Eisel with 25 seconds left in the period.

Steubenville (11-1) fumbled and Eisel got another chance. The senior drilled a 26-yard attempt as time expired.

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” said Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia. “I was disappointed in some of the decisions I made in the first half and we didn’t take care of the football.”

Steubenville turned the game around in a 20-second span of the third quarter.

Macon broke free on a 67-yard run with 7:29 left in the quarter to put Big Red ahead 14-10.

On Salem’s next possesion, quarterback Trent Toothman was ruled to have fumbled after one official seemingly blew the play dead.

A penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct moved the ball to the 14 and Macon scored on the first play for a 21-10 lead.

“That was a backbreaker,” Kopachy said. “They scored and we turned it right over and that hurt.

“We didn’t quit after that but we didn’t finish.”

Salem was led by the outstanding two-way play of Toothman who guided the offense and led the Quakers defense.

Toothman had an interception, a fumble recovery and completed 14 of 20 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

“Steubenville’s a great team,” Kopachy said. “They are the program we want to be. Tonight they made plays in the second half to win this game and we didn’t.

“I’m proud of my guys though. No one even expected us to be here tonight.”