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Multiple players scouted into Jones鈥� ear, 鈥淲e did it!鈥�

The Spartans did it. They became the kings of Class 4 boys lacrosse.

鈥淏est feeling in the world,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚t feels great. We all deserve it, and we finally got it.鈥�

Jones dished out five assists and three teammates scored three goals apiece. The offensive firepower and a stout defensive effort overwhelmed Loudoun County as Salem secured its first state championship with an 11-7 win at Charlottesville High School.

鈥淚t meant everything. Our coaches have been preaching this and trying to tell us to stay humble and stay down and keep grinding and God will bless us with an opportunity,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淎nd God really blessed us with this opportunity, and all we could do was capitalize on it.鈥�

The Spartans (17-3) never trailed Saturday and had a response the two times the Captains (17-4) tried to build momentum in the first half.

Salem took the lead for good at 3-2 on Parker Dallas鈥� goal a little less than five minutes into the second quarter, and the Spartans tallied five consecutive goals after Loudoun County trimmed the deficit to 4-3 late in the first half.

鈥淚 think really our sideline and our possessions really kept them from having momentum,鈥� Salem senior attack Holden Custer said.

Custer, Dallas and Ty Hicklin scored three goals apiece. Hicklin added two assists.

Robert Marble and Logan Sparks scored one goal each. Jackson Wininger added an assist.

Michael Richardson had three goals and one assist for Loudoun County. Carter Kyle added two goals.

The Spartans dominated the third quarter by outscoring the Captains 4-0 and controlling all five faceoffs.

Loudoun County didn鈥檛 attempt a shot on goal in the quarter.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what we wanted to do,鈥� Hicklin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we talked about at halftime, we came out and we did it.鈥�

Goalkeeper Richard Hof recorded five of his nine saves in the first quarter to help the Spartans weather the Captains鈥� initial attack, and Salem took a 2-1 lead into the second quarter.

鈥淚 think our defense is just our backbone,鈥� Custer said. 鈥淭hey always have our backs every single game and they carry us every game. I really think we couldn鈥檛 do anything without our defense.鈥�

Jones helped initiate an offensive attack that registered 20 shots on goal. He stood behind Spartans coach George Revercomb during Saturday鈥檚 film study to see Loudoun County鈥檚 defensive tendencies and what he could do to find the smallest of openings.

It paid off with two assists in the first quarter and assists on three of Salem鈥檚 last four goals.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just the little things. He pointed out the little things and I just stayed right behind him and I told him, 鈥業鈥檒l pay attention, and I鈥檒l see it on the field,鈥欌�� Jones said. 鈥淭his morning, that鈥檚 what happened. They gave an opening, I saw my teammate open and all I did was zing the ball.鈥�

Hicklin said he and the other seven seniors on the roster have been playing together since the third grade. The decade of work together paid off Saturday with a long-awaited state title.

鈥淭his is what we鈥檝e been working towards ever since then. Every year we鈥檝e been building closer and closer,鈥� Hicklin said. 鈥淟ast year, we lost in the quarterfinals, and I think that made us hungry from this year, and we stayed hungry the whole year. I鈥檓 just glad I got to finish out my career at Salem lacrosse with these guys. It鈥檚 been great. Best thing in the world.鈥�