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Salem, Merrimack

A week after carrying the ball 40 times, Salem High School senior running back Jason Martinez ran “just” 18 times last night. However, the end result was far better. Both for him and the team.

On the back of Martinez’s 187 yards and three touchdowns, Salem got the home win over Merrimack High School 38-14. Salem has now won two of its last three games after losing the previous 17 dating back to 2011.

“We’re going to keep it rolling,” said Martinez. “We’re positive, we’re working hard, and we’re getting better every week. It’s looking real good,” he added.

Last week, Salem played hard against Goffstown but came up short, losing 28-22. In that game, Martinez rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns. The senior back is becoming accustomed to being the workhorse of this Salem team. “I’ve gotten used to it,” he said. “Last year I was the starting running back too and I got quite a few carries, and last week I got a ton of carries. It felt great today,” he added.

Martinez wasn’t the only big contributor on the night for Salem. His fellow tailbacks, senior Zack Liupaka and junior Matt Loffredo, combined for another 133 yards on the ground.

After falling behind 6-0 midway through the first quarter, the Blue Devils scored 38 unanswered points. Salem did not commit a turnover all night and played virtually error-free football. The Blue Devils forced one turnover that came in the form of an interception late in the game by Juan Pena.

Martinez got the scoring started for the Blue Devils with a 78-yard scamper on the first drive after Merrimack’s touchdown, and Liupaka followed that up with a 52-yard touchdown run of his own.

As efficient as Salem was at running the ball last night, they were just as potent through the air. Salem’s junior quarterback John Cerretani completed seven of his nine passes and threw two touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a 7-yard strike over the middle to Austin Homsey. His second touchdown, however, came on a less-than-routine play to Jacob Poore, where Poore fumbled the ball inside the five, got it back and fell into the endzone.

Salem appears to be firing on all cylinders right now is clearly on the upswing under first-year Head Coach Rob Pike.