It’s not the be-all and end-all for deciding the outcome of a football game, but the turnover battle often goes a long way in deciding the winner and loser. Salisbury found out the hard way what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the turnover margin last week

Salisbury (2-2) committed three turnovers against Bangor, all which hurt the visiting Falcons mightily on Friday night. A turnover on their opening drive gave Bangor a quick 7-0 lead, and an interception in the final moments sealed a 34-31 for the Slaters (1-3).

“We can’t do that and we need to play a complete game,” Salisbury head coach Andy Cerco said. “In the second quarter, we became unfocused. We were missing blocks. We weren’t tackling well. We have to do a better job as a coaching staff taking care of that.”

That second-quarter breakdown helped Bangor open a 14-14 game and take a two-touchdown lead into halftime. A costly Falcon turnover was at the center of that second quarter.

After a three-and-out for Salisbury late in the second quarter, Slater running back Saivaughnn Vass scored the first of two rushing touchdowns to put Bangor in front 21-14. He accounted for all 43 yards on the drive-a three-play one-that started at Salisbury’s 43-yard line.

Salisbury’s next offensive play was an interception, and it was more of the same once the Slaters took over possession. Bangor’s quick-strike offense was on full display once again. On their second play of the drive, Vass took a handoff to the right side for 22 yards and a touchdown that gave the Slaters a 28-14 lead.

“He’s a heck of a running back,” Cerco said. “He’s a good running back. They do a good job up here with what they do.”

But Salisbury wouldn’t quit. And their comeback would come behind Lucas Irwin, who handled a majority of the Falcons’ duties at quarterback.

After Bangor was forced into a punt on its first drive of the half, Salisbury went 98 yards in six plays to get within 28-21. Fullback Eric Frankenfield benefited with an 8-yard touchdown, but running back CJ Wittman accounted for 75 rushing yards on the drive, 73 of which came on a long third-down run.

Salisbury took advantage of another Bangor punt on its next possession. Irwin, who ran for 83 yards on the drive, tied the game at 28-28 with a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle.

“He’s been progressing at quarterback and he’s earned an opportunity,” Cerco said. “Cameron [Vaka] is doing a great job and will continue to do a great job. We have two guys that can play quarterback, and we need to share that just like our running back situation.”

Oliver Stewart nailed a 33-yard field goal to give Salisbury the lead at 31-28 with 5:49 to play, but it didn’t take long for the Slaters to respond. Vass punched in the go-ahead touchdown from seven yards out just over a minute later to give Bangor a lead it wouldn’t give up.

Irwin exited the game with an injury on Salisbury’s potential game-tying or game-winning drive, but when Vaka re-entered the game, he provided a big lift for a comeback that came up just short.

The play after Irwin left the field, Vaka connected with Tim Buda on a 20-yard pass on a clutch fourth-down throw.

Vaka kept the next play alive with his legs, scampering for four yards, but it was the untimely interception two plays later that ultimately cost the Falcons.

“It’s a credit to them,” Cerco said. “We talked to them this week and we said, ‘You both are going to get reps at quarterback, and it’s going to be planned by every couple of series and that’s a compliment to both of you. You both are capable. You both are good leaders.’”

Bangor quarterback John Raub got the Slaters on the scoreboard first with a 2-yard sneak that would launch an offensive parade in the first half. Salisbury responded with a seven-play drive capped by Wittman’s 2-yard touchdown run that tied the game with 27 seconds to play in the opening quarter.

But the scoring was just getting started. Vass took the ensuing kickoff back to the house 97 yards to help regain the lead for Bangor. Irwin, however, took Salisbury’s next play from scrimmage 61 yards up the right side for the game’s third touchdown in the final 27 seconds of the quarter.

“That’ a big play, especially after a score,” Cerco said. “We scored and we gave it right back to them. We have to make a decision to tackle some people. We’ll be working on that this week in practice.”