Let's get it on!!

Under the pressure of the Cougar pass rush,
QB Billy Cameron (No. 4) overthrows this pass for Andre Hairston (No. 27).
Much like often happens with heavyweight fighters in the early rounds,
neither team did much on their first pair of drives.
 

Josh Calfee finally gets the offense going, hauling in this 3rd down pass from Alan Wheeling...

... not stopping until being knocked out of bounds, in Spartan territory.
The 1st Quarter ended without any scoring.

On the same drive, Jeremy Porter scored from 4 yards out.
7-0 PC.
At some point here, the rain which began as a light drizzle,
started to build up some momentum.

Unable to have much success on the ground most of the night, 
Salem finally gets the passing game going.
Calfee has good position on this pass play, but gets outmaneuvered...

... and, Salem was in business.

Another pass play got the Spartans down to the PC 12.

Big momentum change:
Matt Roan sacks Cameron, making it 3rd-and-27.

Wheeling and Calfee defend this pass, Alan leaping to tip it away.
On 4th down, the usually dependable Nic Schmitt missed on a field goal attempt.

Another big play:
After the Cougars punted on the ensuing drive, the first of 4 Salem turnovers occurred.
John Hedge's kick went through the arms of the returner, and...
 

... PC recovered.

The Cougars would soon reap the benefits of the turnover.
Wheeling rolled right, and while under pressure, found a wide open
Derrick Burks on a crossing pattern.

Derrick headed for the sideline, and danced into the endzone.
Unfortunately, he danced just a little too much for the officials.
The penalty made for a longer PAT attempt, which was just wide right.
13-0 Cougars.

Wheeling, who had an awesome game on both sides of the ball,
picks off this pass, one of his 3 interceptions on the night.

Once again, PC took advantage.
Porter (middle) finds room, and breaks free...

... scoring from 54 yards out.
Burks was stopped just short on the 2-point conversion try.
PC 19-0, with just under a minute left in the half.
It looked as if this would be the score at the break.
Salem Coach Willis White decided to gamble, and it would be costly.

This might be the play of the year.
With few seconds left, Wheeling picks off another errant pass,
gets an escort of blockers, and heads up the sideline.

Showing his best tightrope act, Alan turns on the speed,
follows the blocks, finds room, and heads for paydirt.

Cameron attempted a tackle at the goalline, but Alan was both too strong, and too determined.
Touchdown!
Wheeling passed to Lucas Nester for the conversion.
What started out as a close game, had turned into a rout.
27-0 Cougars!

BUCK! BUCK! BUCK!

Though down by 4 touchdowns, Salem didn't give up easily.
Cameron completes this pass on the opening drive of the 3rd Quarter...

... leading to this trap play, which Reico Jordan breaks
(much like he did against Blacksburg earlier in the season)...

... going in for 6, from 39 yards out.
Chris Denny blocked the PAT.
27-6, and the Spartans had some hope of a comeback.

Calfee would have none of this.
Soon after converting a key 3rd down play,
Josh finds a hole...

... breaking free, and leaving defenders in his wake...

... cruising in for a 63 yard score, effectively ending Salem hopes.
The missed PAT made it 33-6.

Wheeling's third interception, as did the previous two,
ended up earning points on the scoreboard.
On 4th-and-1 from the 25, Porter puts the final icing on the cake...

... making it 40-6.
Salem would score the last points of the game
midway through the final quarter,
and the final was a decisive 40-13.

Jump for joy!

Shout it from the rooftops!

Region III Champions!!