Salamanca Upends Springville In Opener On The Road

SPRINGVILLE — In their return to the gridiron for the 2021-22 school year, the Salamanca Warriors didn’t miss a beat from where they left off last season. In fact, they looked just as hungry as before, despite losing a number of good players.

The Warriors pounded the Springville Griffins, 36-8, at Springville High School on Friday night.

Simply put, the Griffins did not have an answer for the combined rushing attack of Salamanca running back Jesse Stahlman and quarterback Hayden Hoag as the new-look Warriors put up a familiar result.

“You don’t know when you lose a lot of players; we lost a pretty good team,” said Salamanca coach Chad Bartoszek. “The guys stepped up today and played tough Warrior football. I told them how proud I was. You just don’t know in week one.”

The Warriors got off to a quick start, specifically in the hands of Stahlman, who took the first handoff of the game 24 yards and immediately into Springville territory. The Warriors did hit a bit of a snag, as Hoag fumbled consecutive snaps to set up a third-and-11 at the Griffins’ 28-yard line, but Stahlman ripped off a 10-yard carry to set up fourth-and-2, which he then also converted on his own. The Warriors got it inside the Griffins’ 5 before Stahlman finished the job and gave the Warriors an early 6-0 lead.

Cross Training Character recipients from Friday night’s Salamanca vs Springville game. Left to right: Springville Head Coach Brian Kader, #10 Thomas Orndorff, #77 Kody Shinners, Salamanca Head Coach Chad Bartoszek.

(Photo Courtesy, Diana Strzelecki Weiss, Inside High School Sports)

For as good as the Warriors offense was in the first half, their defense was every bit as good. The Warriors forced punts on Springville’s first two drives while allowing just one first down.