Gary Leininger / The Morning Journal West Branch quarterback Dru DeShields throws the ball under pressure from Salem’s Ross Davidson.

BELOIT — It’s one of the greatest medium-sized school football rivalries in Ohio.

Salem and West Branch matched their powerhouse offenses blow for blow before 5,100 fans in West Branch’s Clinton Heacock Stadium Saturday night.

Trailing 38-35 with 7:53 left, West Branch got two key interceptions and two one-yard scoring runs by quarterback Dru DeShields to upend the Quakers, 48-38.

“It (the win over Salem) is very meaningful because it’s the last year I will have here,” DeShields said afterward. “It may be the last time we play Salem, I don’t know, we might meet them in the playoffs (down the road).”

“Congratulations to them, they’ve got a great team and they played better than us tonight,” said Salem head coach Ron Johnson.

“They (the Quakers) are a great opponent and the rivalry is real,” said West Branch head coach Tim Cooper. “I said that preseason this is their game, this is their Super Bowl and it (winning the rivalry) is also a goal for us.”

West Branch concludes the regular season 9-1 and locked up the top spot in the Division IV Region 13 computer rankings.

West Branch senior quarterback Dru DeShields had a big night for the Warriors, completing 20-of-29 passes for 320 yards and two scores through the air and one on the ground.

Salem quarterback Jackson Johnson was 19-of-29 for 250 yards and three aerial scores and one rushing touchdown.

Salem concludes the regular season at 6-4 and will also be in the postseason playoffs in D4 next Friday night.

Salem scored second-half touchdowns on a 12-yard run by Cletus Monroy in the third quarter and on a 12-yard scoring pass from Johnson to Dillon Monroy as well as a Jackson Johnson six-yard scoring run which gave the Quakers a 38-35 lead with 7:53 left.

West Branch’s second-half scores came on a 38-yard pass from DeShields to Christian Martig and two DeShields one-yard scoring runs. One score was set up by an interception by Warrior Hudson Brink on a key Salem drive late in the game.

“These kids don’t flinch, regardless of the situation,” Cooper said. “That’s what makes them so special, there’s no quit and no doubt.”

“It’s frustrating, two times we get hit and the ball jumps straight up in the air (for interceptions) and that was the difference in the game,” Johnson said.

“I’m just really proud of our kids and we have to continue to get better one day and one week at a time,” West Branch’s Cooper said.

Beau Alazaus also had an interception for West Branch.

In an offensive shootout, West Branch scored on four of five first-half possessions, and Salem scored on four of its five possessions in the opening 24 minutes.

West Branch took a 14-10 lead after one after running back Boston Mulinix scored on a three-yard run on the Warriors’ first possession. Joey Jackson added the conversion run and West Branch led 8-0 at the 10:18 mark of the first quarter.

Salem countered on its first drive which ended in a 25-yard field goal by Hayden Tomidajewicz.

West Branch made it 14-3 one drive later when receiver Christian Martig hauled in a 55-yard scoring aerial from Dru DeShields. The two-point conversion failed and the Warriors led 14-3 at the 3:17 mark of the first quarter.

But Salem roared back with back-to-back touchdowns on its next two possessions, capping those drives with a 12-yard scoring toss from Jackson to Ross Davidson and a 23-yard scoring strike to Caden Swiger as the Quakers led 17-14 following two conversion boots by Hayden Tomidajewicz. The score was set up by a fumble recovery on a kickoff by the Quakers’ Marcus Phillips.

The two teams traded scores as West Branch answered with a one-yard quarterback keeper by DeShields and a conversion boot by Eliza Hirst.

Salem countered with a 58-yard scoring pass from Johnson to Davidson. Hayden Tomidajewicz added the PAT kick and the Quakers led 24-21 with just 3:21 left before half.

But West Branch took the lead into halftime after driving 68 yards to score on a 15-yard scoring pass from DeShields to Martig over the middle with 1:02 left before the break. Anthony Perry added the PAT kick and the Warriors led 28-24 at intermission.

DeShields and Johnson had great first halves through the air. DeShields was 11-of-15 for 194 yards and two touchdowns and Johnson was 13-of-15 for 165 yards and two scores.

West Branch had 261 yards of offense at the break and Salem had 240 yards.

“I think we’re well-positioned for the playoffs, we just have to take it week-by-week,” said DeShields.

“It was a great football game and I hope people enjoyed it,” said Salem head coach Ron Johnson.

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