Gators roll Greyhounds en route to title
FOREMAN, Ark.—The Gators are playing for a state championship.
The Foreman Gators (121) dismantled the Salem Greyhounds in both of the school’s first semifinal game at Memorial Stadium, 41-14.
This was the first time either school has played in the semifinals and the matchup was a defensive struggle at the beginning.
The Gators struck first after CJ Green broke a 40-yard run, Kyren Batey scored from 6 yards out with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Green finished the night with 22 yards on six totes.
Batey imposed his will on the Greyhound defense. Batey scored his second touchdown of the game on a 25-yard run up the gut with 2:26 on the clock.
The Greyhounds weren’t going without a fight.
Austin Goodman caught a 20-yard dart from Harrison Henley for Salem’s first score of the night with 10:25 on the clock in the second quarter.
On the following possession, Green dashed 49 yards for the Gators third score of the night 10:12 left in the second.
Foreman blocked a Salem 25-yard field goal to stop the Greyhound drive.
Batey went for the hat trick before halftime. Batey dashed 57 yards down the sideline with 4:21 before intermission.
Batey finished with 14 totes for 160 yards and three scores.
The Gator defense led by Chris Haywood, Chase Boyd and Brandon Thomas kept constant pressure on Henley and the Greyhound offense.
Foreman’s no-huddle offense kept Salem on their heels.
Batey showed his dimensions out of the locker rooms when he connected with Corey Lovewell from five yards out with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Both teams kept the ball on the ground, which meant each squad had to take their shots when they had the opportunity.
The Gators controlled the ground game all night.
Isaac Carver put the nail in the coffin with his 10-yard run with 3:22 remaining in the contest.
Carver carried the ball six times for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Salem’s Jordan Turner scored their final touchdown of the night with his 5-yard run with 0:54 seconds left in the rout.
The Gators will take on nemesis Mount Ida for the second time this season, but this time it’s for the Conference 2A state championship at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Salem Foreman First Downs 10 13 Yards Rushing 104 366 Yards Passing 132 21 Passes A-C-I 19-9-2 4 2 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 4-2 Penalties 3-15 6-10 Punts-Avg. 2-30.0 0 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Salem, Henley 6-36, Turner 18-52, Hale 6-8, Barker 3-8. Foreman, Batey 14-160, Green 6-22, Carver 6-128, Boyd 3-10, Lovewell 8-38. PASSING—Salem, Henley 9-19-2-132. Foreman, Batey 2-3-0-21. RECEIVING—Salem, Logan Jewell 1-19, Morris 1-21, Goodson 3-37, Turner 2-23, Sanders 1-14, Young 1-10. Foreman, Lovewell 1-5, Green 1-16.