Panthers overcome Salem’s early energy for 30-6 win

An inspired Salem Tigers’ football team was energized hosting state-ranked Mountain Grove on their home field last Friday night.
The two win program had a lot of energy early on and trailed by just one score at 14-6 entering halftime.
The Panthers’ rushing attack though simply wore out the Tigers’ defense as they had 395 total yards on the ground and ran away late for a 30-6 victory to remain undefeated in the South Central Association (SCA) Conference.
Mountain Grove opened the game against Salem with the ball and marched down to the Tigers’ 22 before turning it over on downs after an incomplete pass in the end zone.
Salem’s first drive was helped by a pair of defensive encroachment calls.
Mountain Grove’s defense picked up a big third down sack for a loss of nine yards to end the threat.
The Panthers started the drive at the very end of the first quarter on their own 30. Eight plays later, Eli Golden, who picked up 21 yards on a previous carry, scored from eight yards out. Dameon Martin’s extra-point kick pushed the lead to 7-0.
Slade Rodgers had a tackle for a three-yard loss on Salem’s next drive that would eventually end with a punt reaching the end zone.
Mountain Grove’s offense was sparked by Kaden Murphy’s 34-yard run on their next possession as he ran over a Salem defender with his shoulder.
Braydon Curtiss then followed a 17-yard carry with a seven-yard touchdown run. Martin’s kick pushed the lead to 14-0.
The Tigers wasted little time to respond as they scored two plays later on a 60-yard touchdown run. Murphy blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the score at 14-6.
Mountain Grove quarterback Aden Estep then engineered a drive with just 1:07 remaining in the half that was helped by his 32-yard run.
An incomplete pass in the end zone as time expired sent the game into halftime.
Mountain Grove’s defense then forced Salem to go three-and-out on their first possession of the third quarter.
Unfortunately, the Panthers had to punt the ball right back.
Four plays later, a bad snap on a Tigers’ punt attempt went into the end zone, where the punter kicked it out of the back of it for a safety to keep Mountain Grove’s defenders away from recovering it for a touchdown.
Up 16-6, Mountain Grove’s offense would take over near midfield.
Eight plays later, Golden scored on a five-yard touchdown run. Martin’s kick gave Mountain Grove a 23-6 edge.
The Panthers’ defense was now locked in getting two straight tackles for losses to force another three-and-out.
Three plays later, Estep received the help of a big block from Brody Bevan and scored on a 41-yard touchdown run.
Martin’s extra-point kick gave the Panthers a 30-6 lead.
Salem appeared ready to score on a late fourth quarter drive, but it stalled on the 2 when Estep and company made the tackle on a 4th-and-1.
Curtiss had a big game for the Panthers as he had 25 total carries for 203 yards and one touchdown. Estep added nine carries for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Golden tallied 44 yards on six carries with two touchdowns.
Murphy added five carries for 37 yards for Mountain Grove.
Salem’s offense had just 28 total yards in the second half and had all 148 of their yards in the game on the ground.
This Friday night, the Panthers travel to Houston to take on the 4-3 Tigers. Houston is coming off a 44-13 win over Willow Springs. One week earlier they lost to Ava, 43-20.