In the Battle of the Tigers, it was St.James Grinding Their Way to the Win Over Salem
- RoMoAthletics
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
August, 30, 2026
For the 8th consecutive season, a Tiger rivalry game has kicked off the High School football season. For the 5th year in a row, the St. James Tigers are taking home the early bragging rights as they defeat Salem, 23 to 8.
In a throw back style game, with both teams working out the wrinkles of their flex-bone offense. In today’s modern world of turf fields, the phrase “three yards and a cloud of dust” is lost on this generation where airing it out has surpassed the grind it out affair of the old trench warfare.
During the Inside the Huddle preseason interview with St. James Coach Dusty Craft, he spoke about the Thunder and Lightning to their running attack. But it was a clear night on the opening kick-off when lightning struck in the form of Junior Patrick Lonning, who returned the opening kick and took it nearly 80 yards into the red zone to set up the first score.
St. James was first on the scoreboard with a 2 yard run by senior RB, Gavyn King. That would be the end of the scoring as the defenses of both teams dominated the story line. St. James led at the half 7-0.
St. James would widen their lead on another King run, but the conversion failed, giving St. James a 13-0 lead. Just a few minutes later, the St. James Defense stepped up with a safety, putting them up 15-0 with 5 minutes left in the quarter.
The quarterbacks for each team exchanged touchdowns in the final period. Senior St. James QB, Owen Spurgeon who finished with 44 yds rushing and 1 TD, was followed by Salem's QB Sylis DuBois who finished with 47 yds rushing and 1 TD.
In conversations with both coaches after the game, the defense was the topic of conversation. You can watch The Huddle Report to get those updates and hear what they had to say.
Be on the lookout for new episodes of The Huddle Report on Monday!
UP NEXT
St. James hosts Cuba/Steelivlle (1-0) next Friday, September 4th
Salem hosts Linn (0-1) next Friday, September 4th
Unofficial Stats
Team Stats
Stat St. James Salem
First Downs 11 7
Yds Rushing 39 for 128 28 for 94
Yds Passing 32 49
Tot Yds 160 143
INT 0 1
Fumbles Lost 1 1
Penalties 8 for 59 10 for 85
Punting 1 for 37 None
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
St. James (1-0) | 7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 23 |
Salem(0-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Individual Stats
Rushing:
St. James - Hold 3 for 9, Spurgeon 17 for 44, King 11 for 50, Lonning 2 for 5, Nicholson 6 for 20.
Salem - DuBois 10 for 47, Deason 8 for 22, McCurdy 1 for 0, Land 4 for 19, Ray 4 for 4, Renaud 1 for 2.
Passing:
St. James - Spurgeon 2-4-32-0
Salem - DuBois 4-11–49-1
Receiving:
St. James - Nicholson 1 for 13, Cruz 1 for 19
Salem - Halinar 1 for 19, Deason 2 for 19, Ray 1 for 11
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