The scoreboard wasn’t working Friday night at Perry Miller Fieldbut it didn’t keep the West Lincoln Bears from celebrating theirtriumph. The Bears ended nearly two years of consecutive setbacks,beating the Salem Wildcats 21-0 on a muddy field.

West Lincoln (1-6, 1-4) last claimed a varsity victory on Sept.1, 2000, when the Bears beat Madison St. Joseph 21-15. The Bears,0-11 in 2001, also had wins over junior varsity opponents St.Andrew’s and North Pike in 2000.

“We executed in all phases of the game and we snapped a 25-gamelosing streak,” said West Lincoln first-year head coach WillieBrumfield. He and assistant coach Lucas Addison were drenched bycoolers of ice water and squirt bottles as the final secondsexpired.

“I’m proud of our kids for not giving up,” said Brumfield. “Theyplayed great. We had a total game. They played great in all threephases of the game.”

Offensively, the Bears got a 2-touchdown performance from seniorrunning back Stacey Fells. He scored the game’s first touchdown ona 2-yard plunge and Jacob Martin kicked the extra point.

West Lincoln led Salem 7-0 with 2:53 left in the firstquarter.

Fells finished with 22 carries for 114 yards. Late in the firsthalf, Fells took the handoff from quarterback Blake Adams cut backagainst the grain at Salem’s 11-yard line and scored his second TD.Martin’s PAT gave the hosts a 14-0 lead with 2:47 left in the firsthalf.

An interception by Martin set up the Bears at the Salem 47-linewith 2 minutes left in the first half. The Bears got a 15-yard runfrom Landon Case for a first down at the Salem 32. Case picked up13 yards on another carry but time ran out as Fells was tackled atthe 2-yard line.

“Our offensive line did a good job for us,” said CoachBrumfield.

Working in West Lincoln’s offensive line are Philip Jarancik atcenter, Chris Smith, Dan Lofton and Cody Warren at guard and MarkieSmith and Jason Smith at tackle and Ian Smith and Casey Roberts attight end.

The Bears maintained the momentum to start the second half.Receiving the kickoff, at West Lincoln’s 13, Sam Collins took apitchback from Martin who had made the reception. Collins cuttoward the right sideline and behind a wall of blockers raced 87yards to paydirt.

“We had great blocking from our offensive line and our defensedid a tremendous job,” said Adams. As a defensive back, Adams ledthe Bears with 6 tackles.

The Bears plowed through Salem’s defense. They amassed 289 yardsrushing on 49 carries.

Alan Skates rushed 9 times for 56 yards. Case rushed 10 timesfor 37 yards. Sam Collins carried twice for 18 yards. Alex Brewerhad 3 rushes for 11.

“This is a dadgum good victory,” said West Lincoln linebackerWeston Young, one of the team’s emotional leaders. “We felt greatcoming into the game.” He recovered a fumble at Salem’s 31.

The Bears fumbled twice inside Salem’s 10-yard line.

Salem (0-6, 0-5), coached by Kenneth Murphy, never came close toscoring. West Lincoln got some good punts from Fells to keep theWildcats pinned deep in their own territory.

“West Lincoln whipped our tails,” said Murphy. “I’ve beentelling people all along that West Lincoln has some good youngkids.”

Murphy said his team was struggling. “We don’t have a good teamright now.”

Brumfield, a 1986 Salem graduate, is Murphy’s brother-in-law.Murphy has been head coach at Salem since 1994. He began coachingat Salem in 1982.

West Lincoln celebrates homecoming this week, hosting the DexterBulldogs.

On defense, Adams led the Bears with 6 tackles.Dan Lofton had 5 tackles. Landon Case, Brandon Anding and ChrisSmith each had 4 tackles. Smith also recovered a fumble.