Salem beats Lake Taylor 17-14 for VHSL 4A title

Posted December 12, 2015 6:00 am

The Associated Press

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Nate Craft kicked a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime as Salem beat Lake Taylor 17-14 to win the Virginia High School League's 4A state football championship for the seventh time.

The Spartans (14-0) overcame blowing a 14-0 lead and fumbling the ball away in the first overtime. They also avenged a 41-16 loss to Lake Taylor in last year's championship and snapped the Titans' 29-game winning streak.

Donte Clayborne gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead on a 30-yard run. Riley Fox's 2-yard plunge late in the first half made it 14-0.

Lake Taylor (14-1) got on the board on a 12-yard pass from Tyrek Hughey to Jenkinson Wahee on the final play of the first half, and tied it on Hughey's 5-yard run in the third quarter.

In the first overtime, Salem fumbled the ball away, but Hughey's 22-yard field goal try sailed under the crossbar.

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