The Alvirne High School football team suffered its third consecutive loss on Friday night, Oct. 16, falling to the Salem Blue Devils 47-17 at home to drop to 2-5 on the season in the Division I Central standings.
The Broncos got off to a promising start, turning an early Salem fumble into the game’s opening touchdown. However, the Blue Devils capitalized on several big plays and pulled away in the rain to hand Alvirne its fifth loss of the season.
Alvirne received the opening kickoff, but its first possession ended in a punt. The Broncos’ defense quickly made an impact, forcing a Salem fumble that gave the home team possession inside the Blue Devils’ 10-yard line.
On third-and-six, senior quarterback Cam St. Clair connected with senior wide receiver Braeden Baker for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. Kicker Suleiman Suleiman added the extra point to put Alvirne ahead 7-0.
Rain began falling shortly after the score, and Salem responded with a touchdown to tie the game. The Broncos later recovered another Salem fumble, setting up a possession near midfield, but the drive stalled at the Blue Devils’ 35-yard line.
Alvirne’s defense forced Salem to punt from deep in its own territory late in the first quarter, but the Blue Devils soon regained possession and drove for another touchdown to take a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Salem then broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run from its own 35-yard line, extending the lead to 22-7 with about three minutes remaining in the first half. The Blue Devils added another touchdown with 1:36 left before halftime to take a 28-7 advantage into the break.
Salem continued its offensive surge after halftime, scoring on its opening drive of the second half to make it 34-7. Another long touchdown run pushed the lead to 40-7 late in the third quarter.
The Blue Devils added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to 47-7.
Alvirne answered with its second touchdown of the night when St. Clair launched a long pass from the Broncos’ 36-yard line to senior JC Adames. Adames caught the ball near Salem’s 40-yard line and ran the rest of the way into the end zone. Suleiman converted the extra point to make it 47-14 with 6:34 remaining.
Suleiman later added a field goal to account for the final points in the 47-17 loss.
The victory was Salem’s second of the season, improving the Blue Devils’ record to 2-4.
The Broncos will look to get back on track Friday night, Oct. 23, when they travel to face the 2-4 Dover Green Wave.
