Brink, Greyhounds Run Past Seminoles in 3A Quarterfinal

Salem 32, Osceola 6

SALEM, Ark. — Salem leaned on its trademark power run game and a huge night from junior running back/defensive back Kaden Brink to pull away from Osceola 32–6 in a Class 3A state quarterfinal Friday night.

Osceola struck first on its opening offensive snap when senior ATH MJ Washington found senior wide receiver Anthony “AJ” Brown on a 47‑yard touchdown down the right sideline for a 6–0 lead after a blocked PAT.

From there, the Greyhounds methodically took control. Brink capped a grinding second‑quarter march with a 5‑yard scoring run, then caught the two‑point pass from junior quarterback/free safety Jackson Taylor to make it 8–6. Salem extended the margin before halftime when Taylor hit sophomore LB/WR Gage Sanders on a play‑action bomb for an 84‑yard touchdown and a 14–6 advantage at the break.

Brink and the offensive line dominated after halftime. The junior finished with 36 carries for 192 yards and four rushing touchdowns, powering a Salem attack that piled up 466 total yards to Osceola’s 265.Taylor added 113 yards passing on three completions, including the long strike to Sanders, who caught two passes for 93 yards.

Washington completed 5 of 11 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the second half.Brown hauled in the early score and added receptions later, while junior WR/ILB Khamajh Poole moved the chains with multiple catches and jet sweeps. Junior OL/DL Deizel Freeman and junior OL/DL Austin Scott were active up front as the Seminoles hung tough defensively into the second quarter before Salem’s depth and ground game wore them down.

Salem advances to face Mansfield in next week’s Class 3A semifinals.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Osceola – Anthony “AJ” Brown 47-yard pass from MJ Washington (kick blocked), Osceola 6, Salem 0

2nd Quarter
Salem – Kaden Brink 5-yard run (Ferris Thweatt pass from Jackson Taylor), Salem 8, Osceola 6
Salem – Gage Sanders 84-yard pass from Jackson Taylor (conversion failed), Salem 14, Osceola 6

3rd Quarter
Salem – Brink 5-yard run (conversion failed), Salem 20, Osceola 6
Salem – Brink 7-yard run (conversion failed), Salem 26, Osceola 6

4th Quarter
Salem – Brink 1-yard run (conversion failed), Salem 32, Osceola 6

Players Who Stood Out

• Kaden Brink, Salem RB/CB – 36 carries, 192 rushing yards, 4 TDs; steady workhorse all night.

• Jackson Taylor, Salem QB/FS – 3-of-8 passing, 113 yards, 1 TD; managed the veer and hit the deep play-action shot.

• Gage Sanders, Salem LB/WR – 2 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD; momentum-changing 84-yard score before halftime.

• MJ Washington, Osceola ATH – 5-of-11 passing, 94 yards, TD; early strike to Brown gave Seminoles a 6–0 lead.

• Khamajh Poole, Osceola WR/ILB – Multiple receptions and jet sweeps for first downs, plus physical play at linebacker on defense.