Beloit, OH -- For a week, Salem had plenty to say about what would happen when it came to Beloit. It took the West Branch Warriors about four minutes to change the subject, and by the time the clock hit zero in the fourth quarter at Clinton Heacock Stadium, the Quakers had been shut out 50-0 in the most lopsided game this rivalry has ever seen. The win clinched a seventh straight EBC championship outright and stretched West Branch's league winning streak to 37 games.

The Totem Bell stays right where it belongs. For the seventh straight year, the traveling trophy will spend the next 12 months in Beloit.

Grady Hirst had a hand in five touchdowns on the night, throwing for two, running for two and returning a fumble for another. West Branch (9-1) has now pitched back to back shutouts heading into the playoffs.

First Half

Whatever confidence Salem brought onto the field lasted about four minutes.

Hirst opened the scoring on a 6 yard run with 7:54 left in the first quarter, and Cruz Leone added the extra point. Two and a half minutes later, Jeremy Ramsey jumped a Salem pass and took it 75 yards the other way for a pick six. Gavin Marshall followed with a 64 yard touchdown run, and the Warriors led 21-0 after one quarter.

The second quarter belonged to Hirst. He started it on defense, scooping up a Salem fumble and racing 48 yards for a touchdown. Two minutes later he was back under center, flipping a screen pass to Drake Stryffeler, who did the rest, weaving through the Salem defense for a 73 yard score. Hirst capped the half with a 1 yard plunge, and Stryffeler ran in the two point conversion to send West Branch into the locker room up 42-0.

Second Half

The Warriors needed just one more score to put the finishing touch on a historic night. Hirst found Stryffeler again midway through the third quarter, this time from 41 yards out, and Stryffeler ran in another two point conversion to make it 50-0.

The defense handled the rest. Salem finished with 76 total yards and seven first downs, managing just 21 yards through the air and 2.1 yards per carry on the ground. Jackson Shinn and Landon Coffee combined for three sacks as the Warriors kept their rival off the board for all four quarters.

Salem did its talking before kickoff. By the final whistle, the only sound left was the Totem Bell ringing on the West Branch sideline.

Offensive Highlights

• Grady Hirst completed 5 of 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards and two scores on 10 carries
• Drake Stryffeler caught two passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns and ran in both two point conversions
• Gavin Marshall ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on six carries, highlighted by his 64 yard scoring run
• Damon Edwards ran for 31 yards on eight carries and added a 22 yard reception
• Cruz Leone connected on four extra points
• West Branch piled up 321 total yards, 172 on the ground and 149 through the air

Defensive Highlights

• The Warriors pitched their second straight shutout, holding Salem to 76 total yards, 21 passing yards and seven first downs
• Salem ran 26 times for just 55 yards
• Jeremy Ramsey returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown and made three tackles
• Grady Hirst returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown and made four tackles
• Drake Stryffeler led the team with eight tackles
• Owen Bloss made six tackles
• Jackson Shinn recorded four tackles and two sacks, and Landon Coffee added five tackles and a sack
• Tyler Sprowl made five tackles, Gavin Marshall added four and Damon Edwards chipped in three

What's Next: West Branch (9-1) finishes the regular season as outright EBC champions and has locked up a first round bye in the Division IV, Region 13 playoffs. The Warriors are projected as the No. 3 seed, with only a slim chance of landing at No. 4. Either way, West Branch will host a second round game on Friday, Nov. 6, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Clinton Heacock Stadium.