The Shrine Game was back last night and did not disappoint with the game’s result hanging in the balance, the Centralia Orphans got a late score to knock off Salem 35-28 in front of a packed house at Jim Finks Field. Salem trailed by 2 touchdowns early after Centralia scored twice after consecutive Salem turnovers to lead 14-0 after the opening quarter. Salem would answer back scoring twice of their own in the 2nd quarter on a 40 yard pass from sophomore Sam Greene to senior standout Caden Bee with Connor Tennyson knocking through the extra point. Salem would cut the lead to one after a 62 yard rushing score from Cayden Harris, but the extra point was blocked to make it 14-13 Orphans.
Centralia would answer back with a 6 yard run from junior quarterback Carson Green to make the score 21-13 at the halftime break. The Cats would tie the game in the 3rd quarter when Same Green found Harris for a 47 yard screen and run that found the end zone. The 2 point conversion was good to tie the game. Salem took their first lead early in the fourth quarter when Brayden Smith scored from 8 yards out. The Orphans weren’t done as they tied the game on their next possession that went 62 yards and was capped off by a 9 yard Carson Green touchdown. Salem had to punt with 3 minutes left back to the Orphans and had them backed up to 3rd and 5 on their own 20 yard line, when Carson Green found the outside and took the Cats hearts with an 80 yard touchdown run to clinch the win for the Orphans.
Salem was led by their 3-headed monster at running back. Harris, Bee and Smith combined to carry the ball for 29 times for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bee went for 91 yards, Smith 85 and Harris 84. In his first varsity start, Sam Greene went 10-16 for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns to go along with an interception.
The Orphans Carson Greene rushed 8 times for 109 yards and 3 touchdowns on the night. Tailback Amir Johnson rushed 16 times for 58 yards and a score. Davin Tabor was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 51 yards. Salem returns to action next week when they host Alton Marquette while the Orphans will travel to Gateway STEM in St Louis.
Friday Scores:
Althoff 22 Alton 13
Benton 23 Carterville 6
Bethalto CM 48 Marquette 7
Breese Central 50 Wesclin 7
Breese Mater Dei 31 Waterloo 13
Cardinal Ritter 30 Cahokia 28
Carmi 16 Hamilton County 14
Casey 16 Olney 7
Collinsville 13 Belleville East 6
DeSmet 44 Edwardsville 17
Decatur St Teresa 42 Effingham 7
DuQuoin 18 Chester 7
East Alton Wood River 12 Madison 6
East St Louis 48 Christian Brothers 44
Fairfield 52 Eldorado 8
Flora 25 Christopher 6
Freeburg 56 Sparta 6
Greenville 28 Hillsboro 14
Harrisburg 34 Cerro Gordo 6
Highland 30 Washington 20
Jerseyville 49 Granite City 0
Lawrenceville 45 Marshall 35
Lincoln 58 Clinton 6
Mascoutah 42 Columbia 14
Massac County def. Fulton City forfeit
Mt Zion 44 Bartonville 13
Murphsyboro 46 Carbondale 43 (3OT)
Nashville 30 Johnston City 8
Newton 7 Paris 6
O’Fallon 34 Normal West 7
Pana 46 Vandalia 26
Piasa def. Staunton forfeit
Sesser 46 Vienna 0
Taylorville 13 Mt Vernon 0
Triad 26 Mattoon 13
