For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Friday night’s showdown between second-ranked Salesianum and third-ranked Middletown came down to turnovers as the Sals scored 20 points off five Cavs mistakes in a 20-6 win.
The game was delayed for 20 minutes by a pregame thunderstorm, but that didn’t stop the big crowd from making a lot of noise. Salesianum forced a fumble on Middletown’s first possession, and Kyle Cathers recovered the ball at the Cavaliers’ 31. The running game of Zach Jarome and Colby Reeder advanced the ball to the 2, and quarterback Garrett Cannon took it in for a 7-0 lead.
The Sals were forced to punt the next time they had the ball, but they downed it at the Cavs’ 2. Three plays later, Salesianum’s Evan Mullin intercepted a pass and returned it to the 2. Reeder scored on the first offensive play. After the missed extra point, it was 13-0 Sals.
Kendrick Whitehead brought Middletown back into the game on the first play of the second half, returning the kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown. Reeder blocked the point after to keep the Sals’ lead at seven.
Middletown fumbled again on its next possession, and the Sals’ Griffin Salvo scampered 25 yards on the only play of the ensuing drive to provide the final margin.
Reeder finished with 181 yards on 30 carries. The Sals (4-1) travel to Concord next Saturday for a 10:30 a.m. start. Middletown fell to 3-2 and plays at A.I. duPont on Friday at 7 p.m.
