Chambers, Muir lead Salem past Yellville-Summit for first victory
Salem 46, Yellville-Summit 20
SALEM — Peyton Chambers threw two first-half touchdown passes to Connor Muir as Salem scored 22 unanswered second-quarter points and earned its first victory, defeating Yellville-Summit 46-20 Friday night in the teams’ 3A-2 conference opener.
The Greyhounds turned an 8-8 tie into a 30-8 halftime advantage. Both teams finished the night 1-3 overall, with Salem opening conference play 1-0.
Yellville-Summit moved the ball early through completions to Rusty Goodall and Kolton Layton, along with quarterback Westin Swearingen’s running. A holding penalty negated a touchdown pass on the opening possession before Salem stopped a fourth-down rushing attempt near its own 14.
After the teams exchanged possessions, Aiden Province broke a first-and-20 run into Yellville-Summit territory. Goodall answered with a tackle behind the line, but Chambers found Muir for a touchdown on the next play. A successful two-point pass gave Salem an 8-0 lead with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter.
The Panthers responded with a scoring drive that included two Layton receptions and Easton Voight’s third-and-21 catch for a first down inside Salem’s 25. Swearingen subsequently found Voight in the end zone with 58.2 seconds left in the quarter. Yellville-Summit converted a two-point pass to tie the score.
Salem scored twice in a 42-second stretch early in the second quarter. A 10-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion made it 16-8 with 8:42 remaining. After a fourth-down stop, Chambers immediately connected with Muir for another touchdown. Swearingen broke up the conversion pass, leaving Salem ahead 22-8.
Swearingen then helped Yellville-Summit reach the Salem 20 with a 23-yard run. The Greyhounds’ pass rush pushed the Panthers backward, and another fourth-down stop returned possession to Salem.
Baylor Odegaard recorded a five-yard sack during the ensuing possession, but Salem answered with Tripp Martin’s first-down run and consecutive 14-yard gains by Province. Chambers finished with a six-yard touchdown run, and the conversion extended the lead to 30-8 with 1:27 before halftime.
Yellville-Summit’s defense supplied an opportunity after intermission when Tatum Dodillet intercepted a pass. Although that possession ended with a punt, Goodall subsequently stopped a third-down scramble short of the first-down marker to help get the Panthers another possession.
Tellem Hall contributed two catches on the next drive, Canton Smith added a first-down run, and Swearingen carried the ball inside the 5. Voight finished the possession with a three-yard touchdown reception, cutting the margin to 30-14 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Province added a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, with a successful two-point pass making it 38-14. Swearingen later scored on a one-yard run for Yellville-Summit.
Swearingen finished with 198 passing yards and two touchdowns, both to Voight, plus 75 rushing yards and another score. Salem’s second-quarter separation supplied the advantage in its conference-opening victory.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Salem – Connor Muir touchdown pass from Peyton Chambers (two-point pass good), Salem 8, Yellville-Summit 0.
Yellville-Summit – Easton Voight touchdown pass from Westin Swearingen (two-point pass good), Salem 8, Yellville-Summit 8.
2nd Quarter
Salem – 10-yard touchdown run (two-point pass good), Salem 16, Yellville-Summit 8.
Salem – Connor Muir touchdown pass from Chambers (two-point pass incomplete), Salem 22, Yellville-Summit 8.
Salem – Peyton Chambers six-yard touchdown run (two-point pass good), Salem 30, Yellville-Summit 8.
3rd Quarter
Yellville-Summit – Easton Voight three-yard touchdown pass from Swearingen (conversion unsuccessful), Salem 30, Yellville-Summit 14.
4th Quarter
Salem – Aiden Province 16-yard touchdown run (two-point pass good), Salem 38, Yellville-Summit 14.
Yellville-Summit – Westin Swearingen one-yard touchdown run (conversion unsuccessful), Salem 38, Yellville-Summit 20.
Final: Salem 46, Yellville-Summit 20.
Players Who Stood Out
Peyton Chambers, Salem, quarterback — Threw two first-half touchdown passes to Connor Muir and scored on a six-yard run with 1:27 remaining before halftime.
Connor Muir, Salem, receiver — Caught touchdown passes in the first and second quarters. His second scoring reception extended Salem’s lead to 22-8 immediately after a fourth-down defensive stop.
Aiden Province, Salem, running back — Scored on a 16-yard fourth-quarter run. Added consecutive 14-yard carries during Salem’s final first-half touchdown drive and a first-and-20 conversion on the opening scoring possession.
Westin Swearingen, Yellville-Summit, quarterback — Passed for 198 yards and two touchdowns; rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown. Also broke up a second-quarter two-point conversion pass.
Easton Voight, Yellville-Summit, receiver — Caught two touchdown passes, including a three-yard score in the third quarter. Converted third-and-21 with a reception during the Panthers’ first touchdown drive.