In a game that was closer than the final score would indicate, the Cambridge/Salem Indians started fast, finished strong and showed their depth in turning back Lake George/Hadley Luzerne in Salem on Saturday afternoon.

Cambridge/Salem took the opening kickoff and while many fans were still choosing their seats, the Indians got on the board.  Junior quarterback Jacob Ruggles found Soyer Matteson running free down the middle, hit him in stride, and Matteson high-stepped it into the end zone for a 58 yard scoring strike.

Four minutes later it was senior running back Kaedin Ogilvie scoring the first of his five touchdowns on the afternoon, this one of the 10 yard variety and the Indians led 13-0 just four minutes in.

But after spotting C/S the first 13 points, the War Eagles showed they could play with the Indians and over the next 20 minutes of action outscored their hosts.

LG/HL’s first points came on a 19 yard pass from junior quarterback back Colin Clarke to wide out Shane Clarke.  Off an option play that broke down, Clarke kept the play alive, escaped pressure and found his brother down the right sideline who knifed inside the right pylon for six, and with the point after the C/S lead was 13-7 with 5:17 left in the first period.

The Indians, as they so often do, answered quickly.

On a series starting at their own 46 yard line and kept alive on another big Ruggles to Matteson completion, Ogilvie on a toss, sweep to the right rang the bell from 32 yards out giving C/S a 20-7 advantage with 1:27 remaining in the first.

Midway through the second period Ogilvie capped a sustained drive, scoring his third touchdown of the game from three yards out, giving the Indians a 26-7 lead at the 5:27 mark of the quarter.

Time for the War Eagles to respond or fold their tents.  They chose the former doing what all teams strive to do when receiving the second half kickoff.  Score before the half and double down with another on the opening possession of the third.

With 2:27 left in the half, Clarke scored on a 14-yard scamper and the Indians lead was 26-13 at the break.

LG/HL started the second half in style when Shane Clark took the kickoff up the right sideline 70 yards to the Indians nine.  On the third of three straight carries by Colin Clarke it was a one score game with C/S holding onto a 26-19 advantage.

With 45 combined points in just over one half of football, both defensive units decided to step up.  Over the next 20 minutes of action just one touchdown was scored, that coming with 1:59 left in the third, when Ogilvie took a pitch at the War Eagle five, and outran the pursuit to the right pylon expanding the C/S lead to 33-19.

Ogilvie’s final touchdown of the contest sealed things, scoring on an 18 yard jaunt with just 90 seconds remaining in the final period and giving C/S a 39-19 lead.

The Indians added the game’s final score when defensive back Clifford Lewis picked off a Clarke throw and ran it back 51 yards to finish an entertaining football game on a Saturday afternoon in Salem.

The Indians, while never trailing were tested which is a good thing for the C/S squad, and the War Eagles despite slipping to 0-2 with the loss, have to feel good about an effort that against most teams results in a “W”.