By: Josh Lewis, Reporter

Salem had their homecoming festivities on Friday night, but the action on the field wasn’t nearly as festive. The Brownstown Braves came to town and brought with them  a 54-12 loss that they handed the Lions. 

The Braves moved the ball with ease, amassing almost 500 yards of total offense. Brownstown only took a few plays to get on the board with a 37 yard touchdown run to make it a quick 7-0 lead. 

Salem put together a nice drive with a big pass play to Braxton Dean to get into Braves territory. But the drive ended with a turnover on down at the 33 yard line. The Brave put together two more quick scoring drives thanks to some big plays on the ground to make it 21-0 with 2:26 left in the opening quarter. 

In the second quarter the Lions got their offense going again thanks to a turnover. The Braves tried some trickery and instead fumbled the ball at their own 23 yard line. But Salem had to overcome some adversity. Facing a fourth and 22 at the 37, the Lions were aided by a pass interference penalty to make the fourth down attempt easier. Adam Mull found Dean on a screen over the middle to get down to the nine yard line. 

A few plays later they had to overcome yet another fourth down attempt at the eight yard line. But yet another pass interference penalty gave them a fourth and goal at the four. From there Mull found Seth Ponsford in the endzone for the score to make it 21-6 with 6:13 left in the half. 

To close the half though the Braves put up three straight scoring drives including one with under a minute left to make it a 42-6 lead heading into the locker room.

Adam Mull looks for a receiver down field.

Salem put together one more scoring drive early in the third quarter when Mull found Dean deep for a 30 yard connection, but that was all the offense could muster for the night and they dropped to 1-3 on the season. 

Salem will travel to Springs Valley on Friday to try and snap their three game skid.