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Salem

job and following his old coach.

White

adds that even though his last two teams didn't even make the playoffs

"the foundation was there [to have a strong program], people stayed [in the

program] to continue that.

Several

of White's key assistants remained on the staff and finally blended in with

the assistants Magenbauer hired when he took the job.

Even

after winning two state titles in his first two years at Salem, his next teams

went 23-2, losing in a regional semifinal game and then in the state.

Overall,

Magenbauer's record at

Salem is an unbelievable 50-3.

"I

kind of expected that," says White. "Enough people [off my staff] remained

along with the new assistants hired by Magenbauer. Though there were early

problems of blending the two staffs (John Hinkle and Fred Wagner finally left

the program). For now the success has made up for the rough transition.

White

sums it up: "No matter how good the coaches are, players make the team a

whole lot better."

site.

LYNCHBURG-

The Salem Spartans would win their fifth state championship in nine years and

their first in the post Willis White ERA when Harrisonburg's Jimmy

Spurlock's 45 yard field goal attempt fell short and preserved a hard fought

16-14 victory over the Harrisonburg Blue Streaks in the Group AA Division IV

Championship. Spartan running back Andre Hairston was amazing with 224 yards on

41 carries and both Spartan touchdowns.

"We were able to run the ball successfully so we weren't going to get away

from it," Salem head coach Steve Magenbauer said after the game. We wanted for

them to stop us, and our kids played through it and got the championship,"

Magenbauer added

When asked about replacing coaching legend Willis White, for whom he played for,

Magenbauer said, "You always put pressure on yourself to succeed. Coming back

to Salem, I wanted to coach here since I played here and continue the tradition

that coach White started."

Hairston was going to do what it took to win. "If they need me to carry the

load, I'm going to do that," Hairston said after the game. "Coach Mag's

wants us to make plays, and I got better as the game went on. They

(Harrisonburg) we're tough, but we're the state champions," Hairston

added.

Salem would take it's opening possession and use a balance of running and

passing to go 73 yards and 9 plays for the opening TD. Quarterback Matt Shawver

found Tony Spradlin for 17 yards to get into Blue Streak territory at the 49.

Running back Andre Hairston would then bust one down the left side line for 28

yards to the 21 to get his night going. Hairston would then cap the drive off

going 11 yards bouncing off two tackles for the games first score. The PAT would

be blocked and Salem would take the early 6-0 lead, taking 4:02 off the clock.

The Spartan defense would then force a punt and take over after three and out at

their own 33 and mount another drive. Hairston would show some great moves and

break his second big run of 22 yards to the Blue Streak 45. Shawver and Spradlin would then hook up three plays later for 16 yards to the

Blue Streak 28. The Spartans would apparently get a 31yard field goal by Grant

Hall, but a holding call would nullify the field goal. Hall would try again from

42 yards and would fall short.

Once again, the Spartans would force the Blue Streaks to three and out and start

another drive at their own 29. They used 9:41 of the clock to go 70 yards to get

a 23 yard field goal from Hall. Hairston would get 32 yards on the drive and

Shawver would convert several big passes, including a fourth and 14 completion

of 16 yards to Spradlin to the Harrisonburg 20.

The Blue Streaks would finally get some offense going on the next series, mixing

the run and pass. Quarterback Ben Sarver would hit standout receiver Patrick

Ward for four passes and 50 yards on the drive, including a 30 yarder down the

right side. Tailback Andy Owah got 20 yards on a pair of runs but the half would

end on a blocked field goal attempt as Salem took a 9-0 lead into the locker

room.

The

Spartan defense would reassert itself in the second half and once again force

Harrisonburg into a punt and would take over at it's own 15. Shawver would

waste no time finding D'Juan Smith for 26 yards to their own 41. The Spartans

would get three consecutive penalties and would pay a price as Harrisonburg's

Andre Green returned an interception 38 yards for a TD and after a Jimmy

Spurlock PAT, the Blue Streaks were back in the game trailing 9-7.

The Spartans would immediately respond after taking over after a short kick off

at their own 43. Hairston would be great on this drive getting 38 yards on this

drive including a seven yard TD run off left tackle and after Hall's PAT, the

Spartans extended their lead to 16-7. Joey Daniels also had a key run for the

Spartans getting 19 yards on a quick hitter to aid in the drive.

The Blue Streaks would be aided by Salem penalties as the Spartans would be

called for pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct which would put the

ball at the Salem 21. The defense would come up with a turnover however when

Keith Gaines picked off a fourth down pass by quarterback Ben Sarver at their

five as the game entered the final quarter.

The Spartan offense would take over and use a steady diet of Hairston as he got

41 yards before a fumble lost that was recovered by the Blue Streaks Tony Estela

at their 39 gave them new life.

Harrisonburg would capitalize on the break as Green would deliver on another big

play scampering 49 yards to the Salem six before a diving tackle by Gaines saved

a TD. Two plays later, Green would dive over the top for a TD and after a

Spurlock PAT, the Spartan lead was cut to 16-14 with 5:13 remaining.

The Spartans would take over at their 32 and convert a huge fourth and one when

Daniels picked up a big first down getting the necessary yard. Hairston would

then pick up another first down on a 12 yard trap, and on fourth and one at the

Blue Streak 37, the defense came up big stopping Daniels short and took over at

their own 37 with 1:41 remaining.

Sarverr would find Ward for 13 yards to get to the 50 to start a final mount. A

fourth and seven completion from Sarver to Robbie Fields kept the drive alive to

the Salem 32 with 33 seconds remaining. A five yard completion to Dusty Dean and

a spiked incompletion had the ball at the 27 with 8 seconds remaining. A deep

pass attempt to Ward was incomplete in the end zone, broken up by Daniels with a

second remaining, and a last second field goal attempt from 45 yards by Spurlock

fell short, giving Salem it's fifth state championship in nine years, and

first since 2000.

Other

Spartans expressed their thoughts after the game. "Our line stepped up big

tonight," quarterback Matt Shawver said. "They outsized us but our line did

a great job and Andre (Hairston) made great cuts. We ran time off the clock when

we needed to," Shawver added.

Bryan Webb said, "At the end we kept our heads up knowing we had to stop

them." Nathan Carter added, "Every team is tough when you get to the

state's and so was Harrisonburg. We've been trying for this all year, and

our defense was the driving force."

Receiver Tony Spradlin added, "Coach Magenbauer had good play calling, taking

what they'd give us, and Andre (Hairston) finished it off with the run. We

knew they (Harrisonburg) would fight us until the end."

Out of all of Salem's championships, this was probably the most deserved since

they won at Pulaski to win their district, and tough games on the road at

Liberty-Bedford, Amherst, and Richlands before tonight's crowning glory.

Congratulations on a championship well deserved.

All photos courtesy of Salem

Football.