SALEM — Sometimes, there are games where it looks like nobody wants to win. That’s the way it looked in the first half between Salem and visiting Peabody at Bertram Field Friday night.
But, oh what a classic the second half turned out to be.
The game featured spirited comebacks from both teams. It all came down to the final play, a gutsy two-point conversion attempt by the Witches who were down 27-26.
It was the old cliche: when at home, go for the win, and when on the road, play for the tie.
Salem coach Matt Bouchard elected to go for the win. But in a game where the Witches ran roughshod over Peabody for a good portion of the game, the Tanners came up with their biggest defensive stop of the season to remain undefeated (8-0) and clinch the Northeastern Conference Lynch Division crown.
The first half was a real horror show offensively for Peabody. The Tanners ran just 11 plays, picking up 46 yards with two turnovers.
But Peabody flipped the script in the second half, scoring three touchdowns in an eight-minute span to lead 20-0 with 11:51 left in the game. Eli Batista broke the ice with a 17-yard touchdown on a reverse from Alex Silva.
Jaden Roman did the honors with 39 seconds left in the quarter, breaking loose from 35 yards out to make it 14-0. He was a beast in the backfield, finishing with 141 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Seconds into the fourth quarter, Alex Jackson blocked a punt, followed by Reyni Andino running it in from 8 yards out to make it 20-0.
The Witches, however, showed what they’re made of, answering with three touchdowns in a five-minute span to knot the game, 20-20, with 5:03 to go.
Roman responded with another big run, this one from 59 yards out to regain the lead for Peabody with 2:38 left after Dom Scalese tacked on his third extra point.
Down to its last play and facing fourth down from the 12, Salem’s all-world quarterback Corey Grimes hit Julian Ortiz in the back of the end zone to put the Witches right back in it.
But with no time left on the clock, the Witches came up short on the conversion.
While Peabody was hurt by turnovers and an inability to move the ball in the first half, Salem’s Achilles Heels were penalties, and timely defense on the part of Peabody. Three times the Witches marched deep into Peabody territory inside the 20; three times the Tanners forced a turnover on downs.
Grimes also threw touchdown passes to Ryan Quinn Rocco (30 yards) and Ozuna Devante (37 yards). He did it on the defensive side as well with a 24-yard pick six that tied the game 20-20.
The Tanners (8-0) are ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Power Rankings behind No. 1 King Philip Regional, which is the only other undefeated team in Division 2. Salem (6-2) came in ranked No. 3 in Division 3.
The top 16 ranked teams with at least three wins and seven games played make the playoffs. According to its website, the MIAA is scheduled to release football brackets Sunday at 1 p.m.
