The Witches clinched a narrow 10-9 victory over the Bombers in a game where offense was at a premium and field position ruled supreme at The Elite Bowl. Salem’s head coach Joseph Craig guided the Witches’ methodical display that relied heavily on special teams and defensive resilience rather than explosive scoring.

From the start, neither offense found its rhythm—both squads combined for zero completions in third down conversions and failed to convert any red zone visits into touchdowns. The Witches finished with a modest 146 passing yards on 19 completions from 26 attempts, complemented by 96 rushing yards on 33 carries. Correspondingly, the Bombers managed 135 yards passing and 78 on the ground, highlighting the defensive parity present across the field.

Special teams were unexpectedly pivotal. The Bombers’ kicker Robert Johnson was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, keeping his team within striking distance as the Witches’ Robert Perez made his sole attempt count from 21 yards. However, the Witches’ statistical edge came from more than just field goals; their defense recorded two sacks—both by LDE Alan Dale—while the Bombers managed a forced fumble recovery, thanks to CB Gus Weber’s pivotal play in the third quarter. These defensive contributions underscored the tight standoff between the two playoff contenders.

A key turning point came midway through the second quarter when Witches fullback Timothy Dailey punched in a rare rushing touchdown from the one-yard line, the game’s only touchdown, offsetting Robert Johnson’s opening 55-yard field goal for the Bombers. The Witches then extended their lead with Perez’s 21-yard field goal just before halftime.

Notably, offense often sputtered within scoring range, as neither team managed any conversions inside the red zone—a rarity in Elite Bowl history, emphasizing the defensive prowess and game planning by both head coaches, Joseph Craig and William McClure.

Punting dominated the scoreboard contributor role, with Witches punter Jerry Larkin frequently flipping field position, including a 55-yard punt late in the fourth quarter that pinned the Bombers deep and helped seal the win. Stephan Brown’s consistent fair catches and punt returns also helped relieve pressure, minimizing risky returns.

The game's tempo was slow but steady, with penalties slightly favoring the Witches (40 yards on 5 infractions vs. 45 yards on 4 for the Bombers) but not to a decisive effect. Turnovers were scarce; only the Bombers capitalized on a fumble recovery early on, though that did not translate into points.

This victory marks a critical elimination in the 2064 Elite Bowl, with the Witches advancing past a tough Bombers side despite a conspicuous lack of red zone touchdowns. Coach Craig's focus on defense and special teams efficiency paid dividends, proving once again the value of a conservative and statistically savvy game plan in postseason football.