Van Alstyne, Salem run past Fenwick

PEABODY – No defense, no matter how strong it has been playing, can contain an opposing team’s running back for too long.That’s what happened to Bishop Fenwick last night, as the Crusaders saw Salem’s Melikke Van Alstyne power his way through it for 186 yards (158 in the second half) and all four scores to lead the Witches to a 28-22 comeback win at Donaldson Field.Salem had just taken the lead for the first time early in the final quarter, when the back went over from the 8 for a 20-15 advantage. Van Alstyne added the two-point conversion with the run to increase the score to 22-15.Fenwick (1-2) looked like it regained any momentum it’d lost, when Dan Kennedy returned the kick from Antonio Reyes 82 yards for a game-tying touchdown. This came after the Witches (2-0) had originally stopped Kennedy on the initial kick, but were whistled five yards for offsides.Yet Salem proved to be methodical on its next possession, handing off to Van Alstyne on virtually every play. He gained 14 yards on first down to the Salem 34, then added another first down with an 11-yarder. Moments later, with the ball at the Fenwick 30, he scampered down the left side of the field before being pushed out at the 1. He went in on the next play to give Salem the lead at 28-22.”Salem went to the power game, and we knew what they were going to do, but couldn’t stop him,” said Fenwick coach Dave Woods of Van Alstyne. “Melikke is definitely a kid that weighs defenses down. We threw stunts and blitzes at them, but couldn’t do a thing.”Crusaders quarterback Pat Holleran tossed his third interception of the contest moments later when cornerback Ramon Rodriguez stepped in front of a pass intended for receiver Conor O’Brien. Though the Crusaders recovered a fumble at their 43 with just over a minute remaining, they could not pick up any real estate for a possible game-tying score.”We were able to bottle up their quarterback (Holleran) in that second half, and the interception by Ramon (Rodriguez) was a key play,” said Salem coach Scott Connolly. “We knew we had played badly in the first half, and got our focus back.”The game looked as though it would be all Fenwick in the early going. Though the Crusaders won the opening toss, they deferred to receive until the second half. Kicker Kyle White attempted an onside kick, which he promptly recovered at the Witches 49. Holleran gained 11 yards on a first-down keeper, and after a touchdown pass was called back due to a penalty, Fenwick continued on downfield. On fourth-and-7 from the Witches 33, Holleran threw a wobbly pass after being hit. The ball was gathered by teammate Joe Bona at the 18 to keep the drive alive. An incompletion, sack, and loss of yardage then ensued on the following three downs before Holleran (6-15-51) and Bona hooked up for another first-down completion to the 8. Kennedy went around on the following play, and White added the two-point conversion on the direct snap for an 8-0 Fenwick advantage.”The kids knew about the hype leading to this game,” said Woods. “We wanted to strike when we could and to gain that early momentum. Kyle (White) ran the play (onside kick), and I think we’ve recovered every single one (that he’s attempted).”The teams traded turnovers (three in as many possessions) before Fenwick added to its lead late in the period. With a fourth-and-2 at Salem’s 47, Kennedy (6-37) went straight up the middle for 21 yards to the 26. White extended the lead two plays later on his 26-yard run, then booted the extra point for a 15-0 Fenwick advantage.The Witches climbed back in the game late in the half. Holleran was picked off by safety Antonio Reyes, who returned the ball to the Fenwick 37. Quarterback T.J. Larivee picked up nine on the first play, then Van Alsytne gained a first down to the 23. Larivee connected with teammate Eugene Dela Cruz two plays later to move the ball to the 9, and Van Alstyne put Salem on the board late in the half to bring the Witches to within 15-6.The Witches held