Blog LIVE Game Blog - Salem-VB (3-1) at Green Run (5-0)

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Greetings from Virginia Beach and Elisha Cadillac Harris Stadium on this Friday of October 2025. It's a Beach District matchup as the Green Run Stallions (5-0) host the visiting Salem Sun Devils (3-1) in a re-match of the 2024 Region 5A Championship. Green Run won that meeting 21-14.

Terrific night - 67 degrees - for some football action that has a Fall feel.

Green Run brings a 47-game Beach District regular winning streak into the matchup against the Sun Devils and that total is actually 55 when you include their playoff wins over that stretch versus team from within the city. Their only losses since ’21 have been in the postseason to Maury – on three occasions – and to Indian River in the 2023 Region 5A Final.

Of the seven straight losses to Green Run for Salem, three of them have come by eight points or fewer.


See Hatfield's VHSL Fearless Football Forecast for 10-3-25 Here

See Hatfield's VHSL Football Predictions Article for 10-3-25 Here

 

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Green Run opens with a 9-yard kickoff return by Brandon Wilson to their own 19. The first play from scrimmage is a loss of 1 on a run from ODU commit Charles Jackson, stopped in the backfield by Salem defender DJ Wright. The next two passes are incomplete, nearly picked on one by Jack Strothe, who's drawing a fair amount of D-1 attention.

A rare 3 & out from the Stallions offense brings out the punting unit.

Looked like Jayvian Shirley - not positive - who partially blocked the Green Run punt.

Salem has it at the Green Run 30 with 10:54 to go in the opening period. Really good start by the visitors, coached by Mark Hall III, a former All-Tidewater standout in both basketball and football at Green Run. Hall went on to play his College Football in the ACC at UVA.

 

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Salem's opening possession has included a pair of first downs. They get an encroachment on 2nd & 4 by the Green Run defense that followed a six-yard run from sophomore Jason Harden. Moments later, it's a 10-yard completion from backup QB Cam Hall - playing for the injured Landen Curles - to senior Landyn Shipley.

 

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Salem didn't have to do a whole lot or anything fancy on that opening possession.

Green Run's second series starts at their own 13 following a holding on the ensuing kickoff on the Stallions with 7:58 to go in the opening stanza.

The Stallions get a quick dump off in the flat to Tristen 'Pitbull' Williams for 8 yards, but then it's Charles Jackson only gaining a yard as DB Christian Henry limits him to a short gain to bring up 3rd & 1. Coach Brandon Williams of Green Run will use a time-out with 6:45 to go in the opening period.

 

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ODU commit Charles Jackson gains four yards on 3rd & 1 to move the chains for the first time on the night for Green Run. However, it's hard-hitting LB Markus McCoy making a tackle for loss on Jackson. On 2nd & 11, it's a short pass to sophomore Chadney Cross that brings up 3rd & 8.

In trouble, Stallions QB Luke Ashcraft is able to avoid a sack and scramble for 10 yards. Green Run's next third down they see - 3rd & 2 from their own 46 - results in a 6-yard run from RB Tristen 'Pitbull' Williams.

With the Stallions on the move, Salem Coach Mark Hall III decides to burn a time-out before 2nd & 5 from the 43 with an even 3:00 on the clock.

 

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Salem's defense makes a nice play to stop Green Run for no gain on 3rd & 5. However, the Sun Devils commit an encroachment penalty - which plagued them dearly in their loss two weeks ago at Bayside - to give the Stallions a fresh set of downs.

Green Run's 15-play drive that takes 7:27 off the clock ends up fizzling as QB Luke Ashcraft is sacked on 3rd & 5 for a loss of four by Asaiah Brown and then for a loss of eight by lineman Ben Havunen.

Salem's second series begins at their own 45 with 39.1 seconds to go in the opening period. What start for the visitors, coached by a guy trying to stun his alma mater.

 

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Green Run's offense was held in check to just 36 total yards in that first quarter.

 

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Salem's offense goes 3 & out, content to play it conservative and not trying to make any mistakes with the passing game. The Green Run defense comes out inspired with Corvin Watson, De'Zhawn Smith and company. Virginia Tech commit Kam Johnson is suited up tonight, but far from 100% with the ankle injury he sustained last week in the win over Kempsville.

Chadney Cross with an 18-yard punt return for Green Run, which has it at their own 48 now with 10:22 to go before half-time, sensing they need some type of jolt offensively.

 

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Oh my! Could the Beach District streak be in jeopardy? Markus McCoy came up the middle untouched and it's Izayiah Bray, the Oscar Smith transfer, taking the fumble and running the distance for a score.

We'll see if this wakes up Green Run or not.

 

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Can't emphaisize enough how critical that 47-yard reception by Zaevion Cleveland was for Green Run. It came on 3rd & 11 with the Stallions backed up at their own 18 after two run plays went nowhere. It did wonders for the confidence of his QB, Luke Ashcraft, too. On the very next play, he goes to the other side of the field to find the open Rashaun Savage for the TD.

Salem's offense then goes 3 & out. The Sun Devils gain two on the ground with Jason Harden, then a pass in the flat area is incomplete. QB Cam Hall puts Harden in a bad spot on 3rd & 8 with an option pitch that loses a few. That means the Sun Devils punt it away again.

Green Run takes over at their own 35 with 6:17 to go before the half and now with momentum on their side, despite trailing in this one 14-7.

 

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Penalties back Green Run up to their own 26 and wipe away a nice gain of 11 to Tristen Williams.

Meanwhile, Markus McCoy is making his presence felt all over the field defensively for Salem.

The uncommitted 2026 linebacker first breaks up pass completion with a firm stick on 2nd & 19. He then combines with Ben Havunen for a sack of Green Run QB Luke Ashcraft on third down, bringing out the punting unit for the Stallions.

Salem now has it at their own 39 with 4:31 till half-time, trying their darndest to take a lead to the locker room at the break.

 

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Another 3 & out for the Salem offense, really handcuffed without their starting QB Landen Curles. They're not even really trying to attempt a pass.

The guy known as 'A-Gap,' De'Zhawn Smith, makes a tackle for loss for Green Run on Salem ball carrier Christian Henry on 3rd & 13. Jason Harden lost four yards and gained just one on the two plays prior.

Green Run ends up going 3 & out themselves, but mainly as they missed a couple of opportunities for shorter pass completions underneath against the Salem coverage. After an incomplete pass, the Stallions get a 4-yard completion to Tristen Williams. Then on 3rd & 6, QB Luke Ashcraft tries for the home-run shot to Zae Cleveland and it's overthrown by just a hair. He had two targets on a shorter routes that could've gotten the first down or very close to it in my opinion.

Salem now has it at their own 17 with 57.5 seconds to go, porbably aiming to run the clock out and take a 14-7 lead to the locker room.

 

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More to come in a bit... stay tuned!

 

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Stats at the Half:

Salem-VB 14:
Cameron Hall - 1-2 for 10Yds.
Jason Harden - 8Car. 9Yds.
Landyn Shipley - 1Rec. 10Yds.
Izayiah Bray - 1Car. 1Yd. TD; 42-yard Fumble Return for TD
Markus McCoy - 8 Tackles (3 Solo), 3.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks
Jaden Hudson - 5 Tackles (3 Solo)
Ben Havunen - 4 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks

Sun Devils - 18 plays for 15 total yards (1-2 for 10 yards passing; 16 rushes for 5 yards); 4 penalties for 25 yards; 0 turnovers


Green Run 7:
Luke Ashcraft - 6-13 for 98Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio
Zaevion Cleveland - 1Rec. 47Yds.
Rashaun Savage - 1Rec. 35Yds. TD
Tristen Williams - 3Rec. 23Yds; 3Car. 12Yds.
Charles Jackson - 11Car. 14Yds.
Corvin Watson - 3 Tackles, TFL
De'Zhawn Smith - 3 Tackles, 2 TFL

Stallions - 31 plays for 117 total yards (6-13 for 98 yards passing; 18 rushes for 19 yards); 4 penalties for 35 yards; 1 turnover

 

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Junior DB Kason Dockins made two tackles on Jason Harden on the two plays prior. Harden gained five yards, then tried to stretch it outside on the far sideline when he got stopped for no gain.

Up the middle, the Sun Devils have been able to take advantage both offensively and defensively. Harden bursts through the middle untouched and has the speed to out-run anyone to the house.

Now it's a 14-point lead for the visitors with Green Run's winning streak - 47 in the Beach District and 55 against foes from the city when including playoffs - in serious peril.

 

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Starting at their own 48 with 10:16 to go in the third quarter, the Green Run offense is able to move into Salem territory after a couple of runs from Charles Jackson. On 3rd & 5, the Stallions try an inside slant pass and a pass interference is called on the Sun Devils. That's a big 15-yarder because it moves them up to the 32-yard line of the Sun Devils. That's where the guy known as Pitbull, Tristen Williams, breaks off a 21-yard run into the red zone.

Williams is playing at less than 100% with a knee injury, but they certainly need his production to rally in this one tonight.

 

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Luke Ashcraft almost didn't get rid of that one in time and would've been sacked for the fifth time on the evening if he held on any longer. At the very last moment, he got rid of it and the sophomore Chadney Cross - who has had a few nice returns - is able to haul it in for the Stallions to trim the deficit in half.

On the ensuing kickoff, a 15-yard penalty is called on Green Run for ripping off the helmet of the Salem return man. That means the Sun Devils start with possession at their own 39 - instead of their own 24 - with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.

 

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Sophomore linebacker Corvin Watson makes a brilliant tackle for loss for the Green Run defense, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Stallions allows Salem to move to the 48-yard line. They move even closer in Green Run territory, to the 43, with 7:24 remaining in the third period.

Green Run fails to wrap up Jason Harden and they pay dearly for it...



Making matters worse, an illegal participation penalty on Green Run mens Salem is kicking off at the Green Run 45. The Stallions field a terrific Salem kick at their own 1 and return it just three yards to their own 4.

This is danger time for the host Stallions, trailing by 14 with 7:09 to go in the third quarter.

 

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Green Run has gone to work with its grond attack, the thunder and lightning combination of Tristen 'Pitbull' Williams and Charles Jackson. A 23-yard run by Williams, followed by a pass interference penalty on Salem, quickly moves the Stallions into Salem territory after Jackson runs for 10 yards. At the end of the run was a 15-yard face-mask penalty on the Sun Devils.

Then it's Jackson with a tough 20-yard run to put them inside the 10. Not sure how Williams was able to strech it outside to the far side and keep his balance on the TD run, but he did with some serious aggression.



Buckle up folks - - we've got ourselves a good one!

 

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Salem dials up the QB waggle play at just the right time to loosen up the Green Run defense. It's only their third pass attempt - after running it about 85% of the time tonight. Cam Hall rolls to his right and finds a wide open tight end - Damari Adams - and he's able to gain 13 yards into Green Run territory.

Junious Clay drops Christian Henry for a loss of 6 and now it's 2nd & 16 from their own 45 for the Sun Devils with the Green Run crowd starting to come to life. Class of 2028 LB Corvin Watson comes in strong with a stop of Jason Harden, limited to a gain of just one.

Salem burns a time-out with 3:39 to go in the third period before a crucial 3rd & 15 from their own 46.

 

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A friendly fire - with the lineman who falls down impeding the progress of ball carrier Jason Harden - results in a loss of two and now Salem has to punt.

And exactly what the Sun Devils did not what to have happen just did.



I'm not even sure we mentioned Chadney Cross in our Green Run Team Preview we debuted the Stallions at No. 2 in our Class 5 Top Ten (see that here), but he's definitely given his team a boost in this one.

Now we'll find out a lot about the composure of this Salem team with the Green Run fans going absolutely bonkers after their team erased a 14-point deficit.

 

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Emotions are running high for both sides. That's advantage with the host Stallions and defending Region 5A Champs to me. Salem loses a couple of yards after De'Zhawn Smith drops Christian Henry for a loss of a couple. Not sure why they didn't go with Jason Harden or the jumbo back - Izayiah Bray - in an effort to shorten the game, but running outside against this defense right now that's starting to feed off the crowd is mighty difficult.

The officials are pulling captains together for each side to try to settle things down after unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on each side cancel out following the play.

Faced with 3rd & 11 from their own 34, it's Cam Hall making a pass on the button to Jaden Hudson for 37 yards, plus a Green Run penalty gets them all the way down to the 14-yard line. Big breakdown from the Stallions, both schematically and from a discipline standpoint.

 

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After Salem QB Cam Hall runs for five yards to bring up 4th & 21, the Sun Devils leave the offense out there because it's not quite close enough for a field goal try.

Junious Clay and sophomore Qwayon Cleveland - who is getting a lot of action at d-end with Va. Tech commit Kam Johnson dinged up - combine to sack Hall on fourth down.

The Stallions take over at their own 29 with 11:47 left in regulation. Green Run ends up going for it a few plays later on 4th & 2 from their own 37 and De'Zhawn Smith ends up just barely converting. However, protection ends up breaking down for the home crew following an incomplete pass on 2nd & 12.

 

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Salem goes 3 & out as a couple of runs with Christian Henry and QB Cam Hall gain just one yard apiece. On 3rd & 8, the pass over the middle for Hall is incomplete, partially deflected by Virginia Tech commit Zaevion Cleveland, the Landstown transfer.

Salem has to punt it away and Devin Miller fields it at his own 25. Miller returns it all the way to 45 of Salem with 6:18 remaining in regulation. That play - a 30-yard return - can be a very under the radar big play in the outcome.

The Green Run offense can't get much with the running game working on this series in Salem territory. Two runs by Charles Jackson gain just one yard apiece and QB Luke Ashcraft doesn't see the open target on the far sideline. He instead tries to force one over the middle that is incomplete.

Green Run takes a penalty that backs them up five yards and punts it away with 4:44 to go. That is the 13th flag for 140 yards on the Stallions tonight. Salem has it at their own 20.

 

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Salem goes 3 & out and I'm a bit puzzled by some of the play-calling. They give a back one of his first carries of the night in between a run for no gain by Christian Henry and an incomplete pass down the field. The Sun Devils had a delay of game penalty sprinkled in there as well.

Now, the game-plan has been superb coming in and the Sun Devils have done a bunch of things right in an effort to end Green Run's 47-game Beach District winning streak. But it feels almost as if they're trying to hang on and play for overtime. That can get you beat in the end.

The punt ends up giving Green Run the ball at the Salem 43 with 2:46 to go.

 

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Luke Ashcraft buys enough time in the pocket, rolling to his left and he gets away from Markus McCoy just long enough to find Devin Miller on a crossing pattern for 10 yards. Then it's a completion to Zaevion Cleveland for a gain of 11 yards to get them to the Salem 22 as we tick under 1:30 to go.

A 2-yard run by De'Zhawn Smith brings up 2nd & 8 from the 20. Charles Jackson breaks off a 20-yard TD run, but a holding penalty turns it into 2nd & 3 or so from the 15. Jackson then runs it twice to move the chains, but is stopped by Markus McCoy on first down.

Time-out on the field with 2nd & Goal from the 6 of Salem with 44.5 seconds left.

 

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Now 3rd & Goal from the 3 of Salem with 35.9 seconds to go for Green Run in this battle out of a time-out. The Stallions may try to get someone on the edge for this play...

 

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The crowd is going bananas for Green Run in this one as they erase a 14-point deficit against a very motivated Salem bunch, one week after they had to come from 10 points down in the second half to beat Kempsville.

 

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All Tay Palmer had to do was play center field on that heave from Salem backup QB Cam Hall.

They take a knee and extend their Beach District winning streak to 48 games in the regular season...

 

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More to come later... stay tuned!