Trey Clark was healthy, Caleb Purintun had a career night and the Salem Wildcats knocked off Mattoon on the road 23-13. Clark was the work horse carrying the ball 30 times for 186 yards including a 27-yard rushing touchdown.
Salem trailed 7-3 after the opening quarter, but grabbed a 20-13 lead in the 2nd quarter that saw Clark’s TD run as well as a 21 yard touchdown pass from Kaeden Bevolo to Kyler King.
Caleb Purintun drilled a 35 yard field goal to finish the first half scoring that would have been good from 40 yards. The senior was 3-for-3 hitting from 35, 20 and 20. He also was 2-for-2 for PAT’s, delivered 2 big punts that helped change field position in the game, and also kicked a great short kick that resulted in Salem recovering the ball.
Salem is 1-2 on the season as they open up the Cahokia Conference portion of their schedule for the final time starting Friday night at home against East Alton-Wood River.
Also with teams in the Cahokia, Columbia 54-13 over Red Bud, Freeburg knocked off Taylorville 22-14, Roxana 40-13 over Civic Memorial, and in a battle of teams both ranked #4 in the state, Mt Zion beat Breese Central 38-28.
East St Louis fell to Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas 35-10, Effingham beat Mater Dei 24-14, Flora over Christopher 35-22, Marion routed Mt Vernon 56-21, Olney beat Lawrenceville 57-14, Vandalia on the road moved to 3-0 beating Pana 40-26.
