Salem Academy Crusaders Football 14-12 Dayton

Salem Academy football opened the 2026 season with a hard-fought 14-12 road victory over Dayton on Friday, September 4. The Crusaders, who represent Salem, Oregon, in the PacWest Conference (3A), made the trip to Dayton for a non-league opener and came away with a two-point win that sets a confident tone early in the fall campaign. Playing their first game of the season, Salem Academy found a way to protect a slim lead down the stretch, holding off the Pirates in what shaped up to be a tightly contested battle from start to finish. The two-point margin tells the story well. Neither team could pull away, and Salem Academy had to earn every point to come out on top. With the victory, the Crusaders move to 1-0 on the young season. Up next, Salem Academy will look to carry this momentum forward as PacWest Conference play approaches in the coming weeks.