Last Friday night the Salisbury football team needed to make a play as badly as it had at any time in the 2024 season.

With the game tied and time winding down, the Falcons needed to either score or take their chances in overtime against at Catasauqua squad that had momentum on its side most of the second half.

The Falcons made the play they needed.

Running back Jason St. Leger took a handoff and when most of the Rough Rider defense enclosed on him, he heaved a pass to an open Caleb Gonzalez for a 59-yard touchdown. The big play gave the Falcons a 42-35 lead with under a minute to play and they held on for the win.

“It was spectacular because in the second half we started slipping,” said junior linebacker Jordan Tocci. “When it came down to the moment, we ended up being the better football team.”

Salisbury, which improved to 3-1 and handed Catty its first loss, led 35-13 at one point in the game before the Rough Riders made a late comeback to tie the score.

The game-winning play was one the Falcons used for a big gain in their season-opening win over Panther Valley. When St. Leger heard the play called in the huddle, he was confident Catty would commit to the run and leave Gonzalez free.

“I know it’s going to be open,” St. Leger said. “This week we ran it out of a play we ran a lot of times during the game, so I knew the corner was going to bite on it. Once I saw the corner bite, I knew he was wide open so I just threw it up.”

It’s hard to blame Catty for keying on St. Leger after he ran for four touchdowns in the game. He’s now scored 10 times this year, nine rushing and one passing.

Gonzalez, who caught two passes for 72 yards in the game, was expecting to be open on the play.

“I just know the ball is coming my way and I have to make a play,” said the senior who is one of several football players who were also part of Salisbury’s baseball district championship team in spring.

That wasn’t the last catch he made in the game and he sealed it with a late interception that allowed his team to run the clock out.

The win gives Salisbury its best start in at least a couple decades.

“It’s great,” said Tocci, one of three Salisbury players to pick off a pass in the win. “Winning only one game my past two years, it’s just really exciting winning three games so far with a lot of season ahead.”

“After every win we get more confidence,” said St. Leger. “We were confident before the season started, but as these wins keep stacking up we get even more confident.”

St. Leger’s five touchdowns in the game are believed to be a Salisbury team record.

The Falcon defense gave up 356 yards, but it made plays when it needed to, including forcing four turnovers in the game.

“I knew our defense could do it,” said sophomore defensive back AJ Moren, who had an interception in the win and has two on the season. “It was just up to our offense to score.”

First-year head coach Kevin DiZenzo is pleased with his team’s start to the season, and delighted to know that it can keep getting better.

“These guys have made me proud for four weeks in a row and prove they can make me even prouder each week,” DiZenzo said. “As proud as I am, I’m prouder about the fact a lot of them have reached out to me and talked about how much more we can improve on.

“I don’t think we’re at cruising altitude yet and I’m excited to see what that looks like when we get there.”

The Falcons will need to keep getting better as they have another unbeaten team on the schedule this week as Tamaqua (4-0) comes to Salisbury Friday night.

Unlike Catty, which had beaten three winless teams to go 3-0, Tamaqua has faced stronger competition. Its signature win came in week two when it beat North Schuylkill 35-17. The Blue Raiders have also beaten Pen Aryl (38-7), Pottsville (24-21) and Jim Thorpe (48-7).

Running back Bradley Whalen leads a run-first offense. He had 59 carries for 328 yards over the first three games. The Raiders averaged 373 yards per game in the first three weeks, with 716 coming on the ground.

Quarterback Luke Kane has completed 24 of 43 passes this season for 405 yards for Tamaqua.

The Falcons are eager for the challenge this week.

“I’m excited every week,” said Moren. “Every week is the same excitement. We just have to get the job done.”

Tocci, who moved to inside linebacker this season after playing on the outside the past two seasons, likes the style of game he expects to play Friday night.

“I’m pretty excited to face a 4-0 team,” he said. “Especially because they’re a heavy run team. I’d like to challenge myself because I’m trying to get a lot of tackles this year.”