SALEM – With its nonleague action behind them, the Lynn English Bulldogs opened their Northeastern Large schedule last night at Bertram Field against Salem.The Bulldogs, who belted Marblehead, 21-0 last week, wanted to continue that same success against the Witches. And, even though the ‘Dogs came out on the short end of a 17-13 score, coach Gary Molea was impressed by his troops.”We finally played a complete football game, all four quarters,” said the coach. “Our defense played phenomenal, holding them off the boards in the second half, and we were able to move the ball offensively. We also ran the ball hard. We had a chance to pull the game out, but Salem got the pick.”Trailing 17-7 after taking over on downs at Salem’s 45, quarterback Justin Young found receiver Charlie Rucker (2-62) along the far sidelines to the 17. Three straight incompletions followed, yet on fourth down, Young hit teammate Jason Gervasion in perfect stride to bring the Bulldogs to within 17-13 with under a minute remaining. The team went for the two-point conversion, but Young’s pass fell incomplete.English then attempted the onside kick, but the Witches recovered at its 45. The Bulldogs soon got the ball back via fumble, but the Witches (4-3) sealed the win on an interception by defensive back Matt Paine.Both teams traded possessions in the opening quarter, before Salem opened the scoring midway through the period. Running back Melikke Van Alstyne broke for 21 yards on the first play to English’s 35, and quarterback Colby Boulay soon picked up a first down with an 11-yard carry to the Bulldogs 22. Van Alstyne added another first down moments later with a four-yard burst to the 11, and Salem closed out the eight-play drive three plays later when Boulay hit receiver Kevin Holding at the 2. Holding then worked his way into the end zone for a 7-0 Salem lead.Yet the Bulldogs (2-5) quickly responded. On second-and-9 from the English 19, Young teamed with Gervasion for 26 yards to the 45. Teammate Jermaine Patterson then bulldozed his way for 18 yards to Salem’s 37. After being hit with a five-yard penalty, English netted four yards on its next three plays, forcing a fourth-and-7 from the 34. The Bulldogs lined up with three receivers on the left side, and only Rucker on the right. Quarterback Jesse Fowler very calmly found Rucker on the far side, and the receiver strode into the end zone with the tying score.”He’s such a great athlete, and there’s really no answer for him,” said Salem coach Scott Connolly of Rucker. “No matter how you position against him, you can’t stop him.”The Witches took the ball after the kickoff, and marched downfield with an impressive drive that included a busted play, when Holding was forced to throw the ball after taking a bad snap trying while attempting to punt. He found Paine at the 24 for a first down, and the Witches continued the drive. The team eventually had a fourth-and-7 from the Bulldogs 7, and English held Boulay at the 2.Unfortunately for English, the team couldn’t advance the ball past its own 4, and a 23-yard punt gave Salem great field position at the 31. Halfback Dan Reddy closed out the drive moments later driving down the left side with a 13-yard score that advanced the lead to 14-7.”That’s what this game came down to, field position,” Connolly said. “With the way the weather was (constant rain coming down throughout, and getting heavier in the third period), good field position was the key.”English went three-and-out before punting. There was time left on the clock for one play, and Reddy came out for a 43-yard field goal. His kick was not only good, but established a new school record, breaking the old mark of 40 that was set back in ’77 by Robert Carter.Molea talked about the Bulldogs finally playing their league games. “I think someone with one loss is going go (win the title), and both divisions are strong. There are very good teams, including Revere (who the Bulldogs play next week), and they’re playing t