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The Hempfield football team defeated Greensburg Salem 49-21 to open the season last year. They were unable to ride the momentum as the Spartans went winless for the remainder of the season.

Fast-forwarding to the start of the 2018 season, Hempfield snapped its nine game losing streak with yet another win against its rivals Greensburg Salem, 24-21. The Golden Lions, a Class 4A team, were able to hang with the Class 6A Spartans but it was too much defense and too much strength in the running game that led Hempfield.

Greensburg Salem took a 7-0 lead before Hempfield tied it up with a touchdown of their own. On their first 10 offensive plays of the game, the Spartans ran the ball, setting up the game-tying score through the air from 29 yards out from junior Blake Remaley to sophomore Roman Pellis.

Greensburg Salem retook the lead at 13-7, but had its extra point blocked by junior Nathan Roby, the first of many big plays by Roby on the night.

Roby would then record his first of two interceptions on the night to set up the Spartans next score, a short touchdown run by sophomore Mario Perkins to make it 14-13.

Roby would then help extend the lead before halftime with his 22-yard pick-six to make it 21-13. Greensburg Salem added a field goal to make it 21-16 at the half.

Hempfield used the run game to to increase the lead in the second half, rushing for 84 yards on 11 plays, capped off by a 28-yard touchdown run by Remaley for a 27-16 lead.

Greensburg Salem cut the deficit to 27-24 with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:11 to go but were unable to recover the onside kick as Hempfield was able to seal the victory.

Remaley rushed for 52 yards and a score and completed 7 of 11 passes for 95 yards and a score for the Spartans. Roby finished with 66 yards on 20 carries with two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and a blocked extra point. Perkins added 69 yards and a touchdown.

Hempfield (1-0) will go on the road again next week when they start section play at Pine-Richland on Saturday at 1 p.m.