Saturday, October 30, 2010
By Ryan Jones
Salem
Facing a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Salem Quakers seemed anything but nervous.
And Salem’s play mirrored that of quarterback Trent Toothman, who carved up a stout East Liverpool defense.
The senior signal caller accounted for three touchdowns as Salem rolled to a 36-6 victory over East Liverpool.
Salem, ranked No. 9 in Division III, Region 11, improved its postseason bid by beating the Potters — ranked No. 3 in Region 11.
Salem coach Mike Kopachy said he told his team before the game that senior leadership was going to play a large role.
“I felt if we were going to win tonight, it was going to be because of our seniors,” he said. “We played 19 seniors tonight. This is what we have been capable of all season. Hopefully the ball bounces our way and we get into the playoffs, but we played the way we needed to. This was our best game of the season.”
Toothman was Salem’s catalyst. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound battering ram of a quarterback romped to 217 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
Toothman said losing his final game at Reilly Stadium wasn’t an option.
“Our backs were against the wall,” he said. “Once we got here tonight and we realized it was our last game in this stadium we wanted to come out and have a good performance. We came together in a big time game. This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in this stadium. I just love my teammates and the effort we gave tonight.”
Toothman capped off a 20-play opening drive that with a 16-yard touchdown run that gave Salem a 6-0 lead. The Quakers were aided by an East Liverpool roughing the kicker penalty on a fourth-down punt attempt to keep the drive alive.
“That penalty really put us into a tailspin that we never recovered from,” East Liverpool coach Mark Asher said. “Toothman is a good back and he did a nice job. They really hurt us on the weak side with their running game.”
Toothman, who totaled seven runs of 20 yards or more, scored on a dazzling 37-yard run that put Salem up 22-0.
“I rolled to the right and had no one open,” he said. “I scrambled left and I saw the last defender staring at my ankles the whole time. I timed my jump and hurdled him.”
Eric Bailey added two one-yard rushing touchdowns for Salem, which totaled 324 rushing yards.
Kopachy said coming into the game he was leery of the Potter’s run defense.
“They have been a good unit all year,” he said. “I thought we might throw a bit more tonight, but our offensive line really laid it to them tonight. They are an experienced group and we needed them to perform like they did tonight.”
Toothman also tossed a touchdown to Trent Kenreigh, who caught 3 passes for 35 yards. Zack Penick added five receptions for 52 yards, and Austin Noel carried 13 times for 60 yards.
Derek Thompson led East Liverpool (8-2) with 66 yards rushing and a score. Willie Leavell added 48 yards on the ground and John Weyand had 49 yards passing.