The Salem Greyhounds came up short against the Quitman Bulldogs on Friday night, falling 50-34 in a back-and-forth 3A-2 conference showdown in Salem. Despite holding a fourth-quarter lead, critical turnovers and explosive plays sealed the game in Quitman’s favor.
Salem opened the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Peyton Chambers connected with Connor Muir for a 57-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Greyhounds took an early 6-0 lead. Salem quickly extended its advantage on a 2-yard touchdown run by Aiden Province, taking a 12-0 lead after another failed two-point conversion attempt.
Quitman answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass and a successful two-point conversion to cut the lead to 12-8. Following an onside kick recovery, the Bulldogs struck again on a 40-yard touchdown run, adding another two-point conversion to pull ahead 16-12. Salem blocked a field goal attempt on Quitman's next possession, but a subsequent fumble set up another Quitman touchdown, leaving the Bulldogs up 22-12 midway through the second quarter.
The Greyhounds fought back with a 1-yard touchdown run from Province before halftime, narrowing the deficit to 22-18. Salem regained the lead in the third quarter when Tripp Martin broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run, and Easton Muir’s two-point conversion made it 26-22 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter saw dramatic momentum swings. Quitman struck first with an 80-yard touchdown pass to reclaim a 29-26 lead. Salem responded with a crucial drive, highlighted by Chambers’ 32-yard pass to Muir and a Province run to the 4-yard line. A subsequent fumble into the end zone was recovered by Caleb Smith for a Greyhounds touchdown, and Chambers found Muir for the two-point conversion, putting Salem ahead 34-29 with 7:33 remaining.
However, Quitman immediately answered with a game-changing 67-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, reclaiming the lead 36-34. A Salem interception led to a 17-yard pick-six by the Bulldogs, pushing the score to 43-34 with less than four minutes to play. A second interception in the final minute set up Quitman’s last touchdown, sealing the 50-34 victory.
In other 3A-2 action, Mountain View blanked Riverview 28-0, Melbourne routed Marshall 45-0, and Newport defeated Yellville-Summit 47-20.