The visiting Salem Wildcats rallied for 13 points in the fourthquarter to pull out a big 23-14 Region 4-1A win over the winlessWest Lincoln Bears Friday night at Perry Miller Field.

“We played real hard tonight,” said West Lincoln head coachBrooks Burns. “We had some costly penalties that stopped us and ourdrives. Overall, I was pleased with the efforts my guys gave. Weplayed well enough to win.”

An 23-yard field goal from Salem’s Justin Brumfield put theWildcats up 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

West Lincoln came back with a 3-yard touchdown run by DarnellSampson to go ahead 6-3 following a missed PAT kick with 9:28 leftin the second quarter.

The Wildcats answered at the 1:53 mark on a 30-yard TD burst byO.J. Smith and a PAT kick from Brumfield for the 10-6 lead at thehalf.

The Bears came out in the third quarter and put 8 points on thescoreboard to take a 14-10 lead over the Wildcats. Sampson brokeloose for a 45-yard touchdown and ran the 2-point conversion with8:51 remaining.

Salem came back with 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the23-14 win. Quarterback Teddy Martin scored the first touchdown on a2-yard run, He threw a 13-yard pass to Chucky Ellzey. Brumfield’sfirst PAT kick was blocked but he completed the second one.

“I give West Lincoln all the credit,” said Salem head coachKenneth Murphy. “They stopped us on everything. We basically scoredone more time than they did. I liked West Lincoln’s No. 2(Sampson). He ran the ball very well against us. If West Lincolnplays hard like they did against us, then they should win a coupleof games before the season ends.”

Sampson powered the Bears with 25 carries for 142 yards. KevinLofton rushed 4 times for 23 yards. Carrying 5 times for 18 yardswas Kevin King. Casey Roberts ran 3 times for 10 yards.

Directing Salem’s ground game with 19 rushes for 143 yards wasMichael Ellzey.

Lofton completed 4 of 6 passes for 41 yards. Aaron McCafferycaught 4 passes for 41 yards.

Martin completed 3 of 7 passes for 32 yards for Salem. DesmondWilliams caught 2 passes for 19 yards.

Defensively, Mark Case and Casey Robertsdirected the Bears with 13 tackles apiece. Sampson followed with 7tackles. Making 6 stops each were Cody Warren and Colby Burris.

James Ratcliff paced the Wildcats with 7 solo tackles and 3assists. J.R. Higginbotham made 5 solos and 5 assists.

West Lincoln hosts Dexter Thursday night and Salem hosts BogueChitto Friday. Game time is 7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 Friday.