RallyNorth.net

Pinkerton keeps dominating

Sunday, September, 23 By David Willis
Staff writer

SALEM | With a huge smile on his face and his eye-back dripping from his chin, Pinkerton defensive back Steve Eurieck could not contain his excitement.

"I saw the quarterback (Hal Landers) running around and I went to hit him," the senior said, still short of breath. "I missed and just said, 'Oh damn.' But then I looked back and saw we got the interception, so it worked out pretty well, now didn't it."

The interception was by Tom Olivier. And that pick with only seconds left on the clock locked up Pinkerton's 25-20 victory over Salem yesterday.

"It was a huge win," said co-captain Josh Lane. "We needed to earn the respect back, and we did that. We played tough football and kept the winning streak against Salem alive."

The win continued a trend of dominance for the Astros over the Blue Devils. Pinkerton has won its last seven games against Salem, including the last two Division 1 state championships. Overall, the Astros have won 17 of the last 18 matchups, the lone Blue Devils' win coming in 2002. And an interception was the appropriate way to end it, because turnovers cost Salem.

On Salem's opening possession, the Blue Devils marched to the Pinkerton 17-yard-line only to fumble the ball away. While the Astros did not take advantage, they did a possession later when punter Shane McMahon was called down after catching a low snap with his knee on the ground at the Salem 10-yard line.

Two plays later, Mike LaRocque pounded the ball in from 13 yards out to give the Astros the 8-0 lead that they would never surrender.

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