Ryan Roddy, Section618.com
Salem— The Salem Wildcats won the annual Shrine Game for the first time since 2018 Friday night over the Centralia Orphans 34-28 in overtime. The Orphans got on the board first with an 18-yard touchdown run from quarterback Daryle Jones. Salem would answer as senior quarterback Samuel Greene ran 74 yards on the second play of the Wildcats next possession. The Orphans would take the lead before the end of the first quarter when Jones found Cam Tomlianovich on a pass that resulted in a 90-yard td. Neither team would score in the second quarter as the Orphans led 14-7 at the half.
The Wildcats came out clawing in the second half scoring at the 9:07 of the 3Q when Green found Tennyson for a 15-yd td rec. Salem would then recover a pooch kick and score again and take their first lead on a 5-yd run from Jeremiah Rinehart at the 7:47 mark of the 3Q. The Orphans would answer when QB Jones hooked up with WR Xavier Koch for a 29-yd TD, the Orphans would miss the extra point and Salem led 21-20. The Wildcats increased their lead on their next possession with Connor Tennyson scored on a 30-yd passing play, his second td of the night. It was 28-20 after 3 quarters.
The Orphans would block a Salem punt and eventually score with 1:23 left in the game on a 2 yard run from RB Elijah Johnson. The Orphans would then tie the game on a 2-pt conversion when QB Jones found Koch in the back of the endzone and the game was tied at 28. Centralia had the ball first in overtime and would only gain 1-yard. It didn’t take the Wildcats long as Jeremiah Rinehart would score on a 2-yd run to give Salem a 34-28 win.
The Orphans committed 11 penalties and turned the ball over 2 times on the night. Quarterback Daryle Jones would finish the game going 10-18, 2 TDs, 2 INTs and 188 yards passing. Jones ran the ball 16 times for 106 yards and a score. Elijah Johnson ran 10x for 43 yards and a td. Cam Tomlianovich caught 5 passes for 117 yards and a TD Xavier Koch had 6 catches for 73 yards and a TD.
Salem QB Samuel Greene ran 18 times for 104 yards and a td. Jeremiah Rinehart ran 18 times for 99 yards and 2 TDs. Greene finished with 149 passing yards as well. Connor Tennyson had 8 catches for 95 yards and 2 TDs.
The Orphans will host Collinsville in week 2 next Friday, the Wildcats host Alton Marquette.