Salisbury retains cannonball trophy

SALISBURY — The Salisbury School Knights emerged victorious in the 2015 Cannonball Classic on Saturday, Sept. 26, beating The Hotchkiss School Bearcats 21-0. The win brings the Knights’ record to 1-0 while the Bearcats drop to 0-1 on the season.

Following a long preseason, both teams were fired up to get the season rolling as the crosstown rivals met under the lights on the campus of the Salisbury School. 

In addition to the annual rivalry, the game was also a benefit for the One Love Foundation, a nonprofit started in honor of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia womens lacrosse player who was beaten to death by her boyfriend in 2010. The organization  raises awareness about the warning signs of domestic abuse and activates communities to work to change the statistics around relationship violence. T-shirts with “Two teams. One heart” on the front and “One Love/’Bury—H’kiss game” on the back were sold, with the proceeds going to the foundation.

Following defensive stands by both teams to open the game, Salisbury got on the scoreboard first, on their second possession. Starting out on their own 11-yard line, the Knights marched down the field with three consecutive runs by Tylor Cook, including a 31-yard scamper that set up Salisbury with a first and 10 around the Hotchkiss 40-yard line. 

On the next play, John Setter hit Jesse Connors on a short route. He found room down the left sideline before being brought down by a Hotchkiss defender at the 2-yard line, setting up first and goal. 

Two plays later, Cook pounded the ball in on the left side and after a successful extra point (PAT), the Knights led 7-0 with 4:05 left in the first quarter.

Defense was the name of the game for the next several possessions, as both teams traded empty chances for the ensuing couple drives.

Following a punt by the Bearcats and a big return by Eric Mitchell, Salisbury found themselves with great field position, starting the drive on the Hotchkiss 38-yard line. Facing a third and 14 with just over 4 minutes left in the half, Cook ran the ball to the right side before cutting back to the left. He found room down the sideline taking it all the way to the end zone for the 42-yard touchdown run and the 14-0 lead.

Missed opportunities and penalties plagued the remainder of the first and the beginning of the second halves.

With Salisbury driving in the third quarter, the Bearcats got a big play from Francisco Ruiz, who intercepted a deep pass at the Hotchkiss 10-yard line. However, the Bearcats were unable to capitalize on the turnover, going three and out on the ensuing possession. The teams entered the fourth quarter with the Knights still leading 14-0.

Following an interception and return by Connors, the Knights offense set up at the 50-yard line for their first possession of the fourth quarter. After two runs sandwiched around a false start penalty on Salisbury, Cook ran left and cut back to the right for a 34-yard touchdown run and the 21-0 lead with 6:58 left to play.

The Bearcats tried to answer back and put together a seven-play drive including two big first downs by Sol Broady. However, an interception on the eighth play by Mitchell ended the drive and the Knights ran out the rest of the clock for the 21-0 victory.

Click here for a photo.