Salamanca uses four turnovers to get past Gowanda, 28-6

Lucas McKenna scored fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns of 1 and 9 yards to help Salamanca pull away for its second straight win of the football season, 28-6, over Gowanda on Friday.

The Warriors took an early 14-0 lead in the non-league game on a 14-yard TD run from Isaac Brown and a 35-yard interception return from Jarrett McKenna before surrendering a second-quarter TD and bringing a 14-6 advantage into the break.

Salamanca was outgained 209-145, but was able to keep the Panthers at bay with four takeaways on a pair of interceptions and two fumble recovers. Aly Hill, the leading scorer for the Salamanca girls soccer team, connected on all four of her extra point attempts for the Warriors.

"Our defense really got put to the test tonight," Salamanca coach Chad Bartoszek said. "They had to hold over and over deep in their own territory, and they just kept finding ways to climb out of it. (Coach Hill) and the defense have been on turnover circuits, we've been trying to get that turnover up, and we did that tonight. It was just such a huge difference tonight."

The Warriors (2-1) still have some strides to make as an offense.

“It was here and there offensively, but they fought through it,” Bartoszek said. “We have some things we need to work on as an offense -- finishing drives, finding ways to move the ball. We were outgained tonight. But it was probably good for us to win a game like that in the long run."

Salamanca plays another non-league game next week, visiting Portville (2-1) on Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Gowanda 0 6 0 0 — 6

Salamanca 14 0 0 14 — 28

First Quarter

Salamanca —Isaac Brown 11 run; Aly Hill kick, 7-0

Salamanca — Jarrett McKenna 35 interception return; Hill kick

Second Quarter

Gowanda — Chelton Bellinger 19 run; kick failed, 14-6

Fourth Quarter

Salamanca — Lucas McKenna 1 run; Hill kick, 21-6

Salamanca — Lucas McKenna 9 run; Hill kick, 28-6

TEAM STATISTICS