Dialog reporter
BRANDYWINE HUNDRED – Salesianum used its powerful ground game and several big plays to earn a road win, topping Concord, 34-8, on Saturday morning. The victory lifted the Sals’ record to 5-1 as they remained unbeaten against in-state competition.
It took the visitors much of the first quarter to get the offense in gear, but once it revved up, it was very effective. Salesianum began its third possession toward the end of the first quarter at its own 11, but senior running back Colby Reeder ran right on first down for 57 yards, down to the Concord 32. Quarterback Garrett Cannon kept the drive alive on a fourth and 11 with a tough 12-yard scramble, and, on the second play of the second quarter, Reeder punched it in from three for a 7-0 Sals lead.
After forcing the Raiders to punt, Salesianum went to its passing game with the win behind them. Cannon threaded the needle to Jeremy Ryan on a pretty 44-yard pass, hitting the receiver in stride. The point after was no good.
The Raiders drove to the Sals’ 33-yard line before turning the ball over on downs, and the offense went back to work. A 20-yard Reeder carry was negated by a holding penalty, forcing the ball back to the Concord 47. It did not matter. On the very next play, senior Griffin Salvo took a handoff around left end and ran untouched to the end zone.
Salvo was quick to credit the big guys up front for creating room. “Our line did a great job today. They gave me plenty of space to run, and I just made the one man miss. That’s basically all I needed to do.”
Salesianum continued to pressure the Raiders in the second half, and senior Mitchell Sgro was the featured player. Sgro, the younger brother of former Sals quarterback Matt, intercepted two passes, both as Concord was driving. On the second, he deftly tipped the ball away from the Raiders’ receiver, then caught it and ran down the left sideline 77 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 left in the third. Salvo added his second score on a 17-yard run on fourth down two minutes into the fourth to complete the Salesianum scoring.
Sophomore Brandon Dennis got the home team on the board with a four-yard TD run with 7:07 left in the game. The score was set up by Dennis’ 53-yard scamper on the previous play.
The only bad news for Salesianum was the loss of Reeder late in the second quarter to a right heel injury. DiNardo said Reeder likely could have returned to the game, but with the big lead, that was not necessary.
Salvo said everyone notices Reeder, and for good reason, but there is a lot of talent on the roster. “We have plenty of guys that can step up and can play at a high level.”
With the margin where it was, DiNardo was able to find playing time for many players on the roster, including Salvo’s younger brother, Carson, a sophomore, who picked up some fourth-quarter carries. ‘We have a great tradition,” Griffin Salvo said of Salesianum. “It just continues.”
The Sals, ranked second in Division I, welcome Dover to Baynard Stadium next Friday for their homecoming. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. It will be their final home game of the year. The No. 7 Raiders (4-2) return to action next Saturday against the state’s top-ranked team, William Penn, in a 1 p.m. road game.
