The Wood River Oilers used a nearly 8 minute drive in the 4th quarter and capped it off with a 1 yard Seth Slayden touchdown run and ensuing 2-point conversion lifted them to a 42-34 victory over Salem in the Cahokia Conference opener.
Salem led 13-7 after the opening quarter and 27-21 at the halftime break, but the Oilers forced 2 Salem punts in the 3rd and turned them into touchdowns leading 34-27 after 3 quarters.
Slayden had a huge night finishing with 24 carries for 250 yards and 5 touchdowns. Quarterback Miguel Romero added 11 carries for 123 yards.
Salem got some big plays in the first half, getting a 47 yard touchdown reception from Lyric Black, a 70 yard reception by Miking Ettress to set Salem up for another score and Sam Greene finished the game 11-of-14 for 195 yards and a touchdown. Kason Sullens scored on 2 short touchdown runs and Jervaice Mayes added a 47 yard touchdown run.
Salem is 1-3 on the season as they head to Roxana next week. The Shells are 2-2 after falling to Columbia last night 28-27.
Also in the Conference, Breese Central won the Roots Rivalry Game, knocking off 10th ranked Freeburg 31-19.
Scoreboard:
Benton 35 Herrin 6
Breese Mater Dei 51 Marquette 0
Carmi 53 Christopher 16
Carterville 54 DuQuoin 19
Centralia 27 Carbondale 21
Chester 32 Sparta 0
Collinsville 35 Charleston 14
Columbia 28 Roxana 27
Dupo 22 Wesclin 14
East Alton WR 42 Salem 34
Effingham 34 Mattoon 0
Eldorado 42 Vienna 16
Johnston City 28 Hamilton County 0
Marion 36 Cahokia 14
Mt Vernon 68 Althoff 41
Mt Carmel 60 Lawrenceville 6
Mt Zion 21 Taylorville 6
Murphysboro 52 Massac County 14
Olney 42 Marshall 7
Pana 28 Staunton 3
Red Bud 35 Carlyle 6
Red Hill 22 Newton 7
Sesser 49 Edwards County 0
