SALEM — The Salem Wildcats were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they got a step closer Friday. Salem defeated Natchez Cathedral 42-26.
Cathedral was No. 4 in the Associated Press 1A rankings.
Salem head coach Kenneth Murphy praised his Wildcats.
“Our backs are against the wall right now on getting to the playoffs,” Murphy said. “We have to win out to get there. We knew coming in we had to do well against Cathedral’s passing attack and I thought our defense did a good job doing that. We actually played good on both sides of the ball last night.
“Offensively,” Murphy added, “we ran and passed the ball as good as we have all season. If we hadn’t given up two touchdowns it wouldn’t have been as close as it was.”
Salem got on the board first on at 70-yard punt return.
Stevie Quinn then scored with 3:57 left in the first quarter to give Salem a 14-0 lead. With less that a minute on the clock Salem scored again and Tae Smith ran in the two-point conversion.
Cathedral scored with 9:35 left in the third quarter, but failed on the two-point conversion try.
Cathedral scored again at the 7:12 mark of the second quarter on a 4-yard run.
On Cathedral’s next possession, Salem’s Shannon Damond intercepted a Cathedral pass. With 35 seconds left in the second quarter, Smith hit Damond for a 49-yard touchdown pass. Damond passed to Zack Bacot for the two-point conversion.
Damond got his second interception of the game to end the first half.
Quinn opened the third quarter with a 61-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Dale McDaniel was good.
Salem fumbled on its next possession, and Cathedral recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good.
Salem’s last score came with 11:26 left in the game. Roger Nicks scored on a 36-yard touchdown run. McDaniel ran in for conversion.
Cathedral scored as time expired on a 13-yard run.
The Wildcats had a total of 441 yards of total offense.
Offensively, Nicks had 12 carries for 143 yards and a touchdown. Quinn finished with 19 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Smith had five carries for 7 yards and a touchdown.
On the receiving end, Austin Fazande had a catch for 40 yards, while Nicks had one for 18. Damond had one catch for 9 yards and the touchdown. Bacot had a catch for 3 yards.
Tae Smith completed 3 of 8 passes for 107 yards. Damond went 1 for 2 passing for 3 yards.
Bacot led Salem’s defense with 11 tackles and two assists. Kirk Jefferson had six tackles. Kedric Damond had four tackles and an assist. Damond had three tackles and two interceptions. Julius Faulk and Fazande each had three tackles. C.J. Stauffer had a fumble recovery.
Salem visits undefeated Bogue Chitto on Friday.
Bogue Chitto beat Hinds AHS 9-0 Friday.
“We have to win out to keep our hopes alive for a playoff spot,” Murphy said. “Bogue Chitto is a really good football team and we have our work cut out for us. We are going to have to be on our ‘A’ game to win.”
Salem is 5-3 overall and 4-3 in region 7-4A.
