BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

The football teams were both in 0-7.

So one could only expect the Salisbury-East Davidson matchup of winless Central Carolina Conference foes in Ludwig Stadium Friday night to be dubbed the “Dull Bowl.”

Thankfully, Salisbury put on a halftime show and Liddy turned things into the “Dole Bowl.”

But alas, after Salisbury’s most famous face had crowned the queen, the two teams had to play football again.

And the second half reverted into one turnover after another as the Golden Eagles doled out some punishment on the ground and eased their way to a not-so-pretty but oh-so-sweet 7-0 victory.

“Finally, we got the monkey off our back,” sighed a subdued Eddie Williamson, who wasn’t celebrating all that much. Instead, he trudged off the field, carrying equipment.

At least he was on the field. Salisbury coach Mike Peavey was thrown out with 22 seconds remaining in the first half.

He didn’t miss much in the second half by his Hornets.

Salisbury (0-8) finished with 4 net yards on 18 carries. Brian Roten did make some big plays on offense but drives always fizzled.

“We just can’t move the ball,” said Peavey. “That’s been the story of the year.”

East Davidson wasn’t overwhelming by any means either, but did manage a score on a 44-yard pass from Ben Snyder to Kent Ridge with four minutes left in the first quarter. The Hornet defense did not allow another point but got no support from the offense.

Actually, the Hornets had a couple of good chances to put points on the board.

Matt Russ boomed a 42-yard field goal through the uprights with plenty of room to spare early in the second quarter. But a late flag went up. Too many men on the field. Russ was forced to throw away his tee and punt.

Salisbury was in the midst of an 87-yard drive with three minutes left in the third, thanks to a perfectly-thrown bomb from Brian Roten to Andre Bruce that took the ball to the East 17.

But three plays later, Roten’s floater toward the end zone was picked off by Brett Hege.

Peavey wasn’t around to see it. During a timeout just before halftime, he went onto the field, argued and was tossed. Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties took the ball to the 2 but East couldn’t score in the last 20 seconds.

“I didn’t go out there to get thrown out,” he said. “I really said nothing. But the kids have to know we support them and are going to fight for them.”

“I know how he feels,” said Williamson. “I’ve been there.

“It was two evenly matched teams battling. We both wanted to win. It has been frustrating for both teams this year.”

Regardless of the three Hornet interceptions, the untimely penalties and the loss of its coach, Salisbury was still only one play from tying or winning.

“Yeah, it was one play,” Peavey said. “But we have to find that play. That’s our challenge.”

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NOTES: Roten completed six passes for 99 yards. He was plagued by several drops. ... Matt Butler led a Hornet defense praised by both coaches. ... Salisbury travels to West Iredell next week.