Things looked bleak for Salmen.
The Spartans trailed District 7-5A rival Chalmette by 10 points with less than five minutes to play as the district title was on the line.
Salmen junior quarterback Da'John Howard scored twice in the final 64 seconds as the Spartans rallied for a 28-24 home victory on Nov. 7.
"It's always what we preach to our kids about Spartan magic," said Salmen coach Eric Chuter. "There is a mojo about this place and about how we need to keep fighting until it's zero on the clock. We were dead in the water behind by 10 points late in the fourth quarter. But we kept fighting and fighting and got the onside kick. Miraculously, I held on to my three timeouts to the end, and they paid off."
With the win, the Spartans (6-4, 3-1) captured a share of the District 7-5A crown with Slidell, but it wasn't easy.
Down by 10 points, the Spartans put together an 11-play drive capped off by a 12-yard Howard TD run with only 1:04 left. The Spartans recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Chalmette 40-yard line. Four plays later, with 18 seconds on the clock, Howard raced into the end zone from 23 yards out to secure the dramatic win.
"It was a great game," said Salmen wide receiver Rey'sean Coleman. "Our quarterback and offensive line pushed through in the fourth quarter to win. All I can say is that miracles really do happen."
Howard, who threw for two TDs and rushed for two more scores, said the Spartans never stopped fighting.
"Even when our team was down and out, it was all about staying in the fight and coming out on top," he said. "Our special teams gave us the ball back, and I was able to execute our offense to get the win. I didn't know I would get a second chance, but I kept my head in the game and it all worked out."
The game was back and forth from the start.
Salmen scored first on a 5-yard TD pass from Howard to Coleman midway through the first quarter. Chalmette (6-4, 2-2) answered minutes later as quarterback Breez Wilson connected with Rashawn Bangham for a 25-yard TD to tie the game.
The Owls took their first lead in the second quarter on a 23-yard Tristan Dubose field goal, but the Spartans answered with a 42-yard Raheen Scott TD catch for a 14-10 halftime lead.
Each team came away with interceptions in the third quarter as Salmen's Tyree Burton and Chalmette's Darion McCrary each picked off passes to end drives. The Owls regained the lead late in the third quarter on Brandon Booker's 5-yard TD run.
Chalmette increased its lead to 24-14 as Dana Antoine hauled in a 6-yard TD pass with 4:59 left to set up a wild finish.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Chalmette | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 -- 24
Salmen | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 -- 28
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
SAL: Rey'sean Coleman 5 pass from Da'John Howard (Issac Plinski kick), 6:59, 0-7
CHS: Rashawn Bangham 25 pass from Breez Wilson (Tristan Dubose kick), 3:13, 7-7
Second quarter
CHS: Dubose 23 FG, 7:42, 10-7
SAL: Raheem Scott 42 pass from Howard (Plinski kick), 5:06, 10-14
Third quarter
CHS: Brandon Booker 5 run (Dubose kick), 2:39, 17-14
Fourth quarter
CHS: Dana Antoine 6 pass from Wilson (Dubose kick), 4:59, 24-14
SAL: Howard 5 run (Plinski kick), 1:04, 24-21
SAL: Howard 23 run (Plinski kick), 0:18, 24-28
STATISTICS
Chalmette: 254 total yards (96 pass, 158 rush)
Rushing: Breez Wilson, 15-72; Marion White, 2-20; Brandon Booker, 9-45, TD.
Receiving: Jackson Nunez, 3-22; Rashawn Bangham, 1-25, TD; Dana Antoine, 2-17, TD.
Passing: Breez, 9-14, 96 yards, 2 TDs.
Salmen: 333 total yards (226 pass, 107 rush)
Rushing: Da'John Howard, 12-88, 2 TDs; Jimmy Chanzy, 15-29.
Receiving: Rey'sean Coleman, 5-75, TD; Kashius Sampson, 3-39; Raheem Scott, 4-91, TD.
Passing: Howard, 14-24, 107 yards, 2 TDs.