Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Garrett Million was feeling like a million bucks Oct. 20, scoring on a long run and a fumble recovery as Salesianum wrapped up a four-game homestand with an impressive offensive performance, defeating William Penn, 35-21. The Sals improved to 5-2 with the win.
Million’s backfield mate, Carson Salvo, was making noise on the first Sallies scoring drive early in the second quarter. Salesianum quarterback Zach Gwynn delivered a key play, scrambling for 12 yards on a fourth-and-10 from the Colonials’ 20. Caron Salvo picked up four yards on first down, setting up a controversial call on the next play.
Salvo carried the ball nearly to the end zone, but William Penn’s players indicated that they had recovered a fumble. One official, however, was signaling that Salvo was down, and after a discussion, second down was replayed. This time, Salvo made it into the end zone, and after Cooper Urban’s kick, it was 7-0.
An interception by Jassiem Lynch on William Penn’s next possession gave the Sals the ball at the Colonials’ 30. Salvo ran for 19 yards to the six, and three plays later, Gwynn dove in from the one, extending the lead to 13-0.
The Colonials got seven points back halfway through the third quarter. Quarterback Noah Ogbin found Matthew Hibbert with a 32-yard pass, setting his team up at the Salesianum 35. Najzhier Banks scored on the next play, slicing through the Sallies’ defense on his way to the house.
Penn pinned the Sals deep in their own territory on the kickoff, way back at the 12-yard line, but that’s when Million took his turn in the spotlight. He took a handoff at the Salesianum 36 and quickly separated himself from the William Penn defense. After a two-point conversion, the team’s lead stood at 21-7.
Million didn’t take much of a break before making himself heard again. He fell on a Colonials fumble on second down, giving the Sals the ball just inside the 30. Gwynn ran a play-action on first down and found a wide-open Ryan Bryson for the score and a 28-7 lead with 2:30 left in the third.
William Penn was not about to give up. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Banks struck again, going 55 yards up the middle to cut the deficit to two touchdowns. The Colonials forced Salesianum to punt, getting the ball at their own 5-yard line, but turnovers again hurt the visitors. The first-down snap went over the quarterback’s head, and Million was able to slide and cover the ball just before it went out of the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening.
William Penn added one more score on a big play, as Ogbin connected with Hibbert for a 69-yard strike, but the Sals would run out the final 5:58 to seal the victory.
Sallies is on the road next Friday night at 7 at Westminster (Md.). William Penn (3-4) travels to Delcastle next Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
