OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson football began the home portion of the 2022 season in grand fashion, locking down 21st-ranked Salisbury in the second half en route to a 35-21 triumph at an energized Mustang Stadium.
Stevenson (2-0) took its defensive intensity to another level in the second half, forcing three fumbles while limiting Salisbury (1-1) to just 38 rushing yards over the final two quarters. Saturday's game marked the first meeting between the two Maryland programs and Stevenson welcomed Madi Nelson as an honorary captain for the coin toss, which she called and ultimately won for the Mustangs.
On the offensive end, senior QB
Ryan Sedgwick set a new Stevenson program record for career touchdown passes (62) with his first-quarter delivery to wideout
Amir Moore. The record breaker marked the first of three opening-half touchdown passes for the senior, also connecting to
Tylor Blake and
Steven Smothers.
Tied up at 21 heading into halftime, the Mustangs added the final two scores of the game in the fourth quarter. Both runs came from inside five yards as
Brandon Walker plowed in from one yard out with 11:42 left. With just 33 seconds remaining,
Maurice Hammond added a crucial insurance marker with a three-yard plunge.
Sean Sullivan and
Tom Zatalava each recorded nine tackles with a forced fumble in leading a Stevenson defense that had big contributions from throughout the lineup.
Demetrius Salley added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, while
Clarence Travis made timely plays with three tackles and an impressive forced fumble. As a team, Stevenson limited Salisbury to just 3-of-13 on third down conversions.
After picking up a first down on its initial drive, Salisbury was forced to punt. The Mustangs opened the game with a 24-yard completion to
Brandon Booze on the team's first offensive snap before Sedgwick lobbed one to Moore just five plays later for a 7-0 lead. The Sea Gulls recovered a fumbled ball on fourth down, giving the Mustangs some advantageous starting field position near midfield. After moving the sticks twice on third down, Sedgwick zipped a 15-yard scoring pass to Blake, doubling the advantage at 14-0.
Salisbury responded with a scoring connection between Andre Matthews and Gabriel Mendez from 23 yards out, slicing the Stevenson lead in half at 14-7. Following a three-and-out for the Mustangs, the visiting Sea Gulls converted a fourth down before Williams sped up the middle for a 38-yard touchdown rush.
Jakari Lewis gave Stevenson some momentum back with a 51-yard kickoff return, providing starting field position just beyond midfield. The Mustangs moved back in front quickly, notching the longest scoring play of the afternoon with Sedgwick finding Smothers up the seam for a 48-yard score.
Salisbury put together an 11-play drive in its next possession, capping it with a four-yard dive up the middle from Hunter Hruz, once again bringing the score even at 21.
Neither side was able to find the scoreboard in the third. With the Sea Gulls threatening inside the five late in the third, Stevenson recovered its first fumble of the contest with Sullivan jarring the ball loose and
Jaiheem Henderson falling on it.
The Mustangs were able to gain some breathing room before flipping the field with a punt that set Salisbury up on the 37 in the fourth quarter. After a penalty and one-yard loss, Travis ripped the ball out as Stevenson pounced on it at the Salisbury 13.
Walker found his way into the endzone from one yard out, handing the advantage back to Stevenson at 28-21. The Mustangs forced their final fumble of the day on the next drive as Zatalava shot the gap and punched the ball into the waiting arms of
Justin Rutkowski at the 7:53 mark of the fourth. The Mustang defense eventually forced another three and out before melting the clock with a scoring drive that spanned over five minutes, capped with a three-yard run from Hammond.
Matthews finished with two total touchdowns on 27 passing yards and 73 rushing yards.
Corey Jones-Pentz added a kickoff return of 26 yards, while
Brody Campbell went a perfect 5-for-5 on extra-point attempts.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson: The Mustangs are back at Mustang Stadium on Saturday, September 17 for its conference opener against Alvernia. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
- Salisbury: The Sea Gulls welcome Ave Maria on September 17 at noon.
