Coach John Starr picked up his first win as head coach of the Salem High football team last night as the Seminoles hung to beat Madison County 14-9.

"It feels good to get the win" an elated but weary Coach Starr said after the game. "The kids grew up a lot tonight."

The Seminoles mounted a 76-yard scoring drive in the first quarter that started with a nine-yard run by Jahaad Coleman. Georgio Redman broke loose for 32 yards a few plays later and the Seminoles were in the red zone at the Madison County 14. Facing a fourth down at the seven yard line, quarterback Jarrett Brown sidestepped a pair of defenders and scored the first Salem touchdown with 3:43 left in the first quarter. Daniel Whitson’s point after was good, and Salem led 7-0.

It appeared Salem might be on its’ way to a route when Tyrone Elliot intercepted a Madison County pass at midfield, but the Seminoles were unable to capitalize on the turnover.

The Red Raiders burned the Seminole defense for 42 yards on their next possession when quarterback Alex Jordan hit wide reciever Marcus Johnson a 42-yard pass, but the Seminole defense, aided by a pair of holding penalties on Madison County, stiffened and forced a punt.

On the next Salem possession, Coleman broke loose down the sideline and raced 90 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the scored was nullifed by a holding penalty.

The second quarter ended with the Seminoles clinging to a 7-0 lead.

The Seminole offense seemed on the verge of another scoring drive early in the second half after a 24-yard run by Coleman, but a holding penalty and a pair of incomplete passes later, Salem turned the ball over on downs.

The stingy, an opportunistic Seminole defense, made life difficult for Madison County backs all night, sacking the quarterback on the next Red Raider possession and then Keenan Clark recovered a loose ball to set Salem up at the Madison County 38.

On the second play of the possession, Damion Gordon, who had come in to play quarterback for Salem in the second half, faked a pitch a made a wild dash for the endzone through the teeth of Red Raider defense, eluding at least a half dozen defenders along the way.

Once again, Whitson’s kick was good and the Seminoles led 14-0 with 6:13 left in quarter number three.

The Red Raiders pinned the Seminoles inside the five on the next Salem possession and wound with good field position after Salem punted.

Madison County’s Jordan then hit big Terrell McCrary on a 25-yard route and followed that up with a five-yard touchdown pass to Johnson. After Branden Wilson kicked the extra-point, the Salem lead had been cut in half.

The rest of the game belonged the Salem defense which had to responded to an onside kick that went Madison County’s way and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a punt that gave the ball right back to the Red Raiders.

"We kept sending back out there, but they kept fighting," Coach Starr said of his defense. "That kind of character is special."

Breon Pad finally put an end to Madison County’s run of good fortune, when he intercepted a Jordan pass, the third takeaway on the night for Salem.

With 5:25 left in the game, Salem started a series at its own three, but Redman was trapped by the Red Raider defense before he could get out of the endzone, resulting in a safety.

Once again, the defense rose to the occasion and thwarted the Madison County offense after the ensuing free kick.

Coleman was the most effective weapon for the Seminole offense, gaining 79 yards on 12 carries while Redman rushed for 51 yards on nine carries.