SALISBURY TOWNSHIP — Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak had a simple message for his Blue Bombers: improvise, adapt, overcome.

They did exactly that on Friday night, just two days after having only 23 healthy bodies at practice, which included five total linemen.

In a game that featured many lead changes and enough haymakers to fill a boxing ring, Palmerton (3-5) escaped with a 26-25 Colonial League victory over Salisbury that came down to a crucial fourth-and-1 conversion in the final minutes.

“We put things together, and the kids bought into what we were saying about improvising, because in life, you’ve got to improvise at certain obstacles, but you’ve got to turn those obstacles into opportunities,” said Walkowiak.

Salisbury struck first when junior quarterback Keaton Frye found senior tight end Jadan Claudio wide open for a 17-yard touchdown, capping an impressive opening drive. The Falcons led 7-0.

Palmerton answered immediately.

A methodical 12-play drive featuring heavy doses of Vincent Taglieri and Caleb Sagastume ended with sophomore Michael Garey powering in from two yards out to tie the game at 7.

Midway through the second quarter, Garey started to take over.

An eight-play drive — aided by a fair catch interference penalty and a roughing the passer call — ended with Garey scoring from 18 yards out. Sophomore T.K. Gursky, rotating in at quarterback, made a clutch third-down conversion to keep the drive alive and give Palmerton a 13-7 advantage.

With just under five minutes left in the first half, Frye was injured and didn’t return for Salisbury after walking off on his own. Sophomore Jarrod Blunt stepped in at quarterback, and on his first play nearly broke a 57-yard touchdown on an RPO keeper — only to have it erased by a holding penalty.

Momentum swings? Both teams refused to acknowledge them.

Palmerton recovered a fumble on the Salisbury 8-yard line with just over a minute left to play before halftime. However, the Bombers came away with no points. After a few penalties and an underwhelming snap on a field-goal attempt, Walkowiak’s team clung to a 13-7 lead at intermission.

“We’re a young team, so it’s a building block — a learning block — it’s growth. They matured and grew up a little bit tonight,” Walkowiak said. “They give us effort every week, and it’s just a matter of growing and being consistent.”

Salisbury opened the third quarter with a statement drive, converting on fourth down before Jamanni Cruz scored on a 21-yard run to tie the game at 13.

The Falcons switched to a different style of offense without their starting QB, featuring direct snaps and jet-sweep type plays, which put their speedy playmaker Cruz in space, and his speed completely changed the dynamic of the game.

Then came the dagger — or so it seemed.

Late in the third quarter, Salisbury used some trickery. Cruz took a wide receiver reverse, and instead of running it up the sideline, he launched an 85-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jadiel Gonzalez. The trick play had Palmerton’s defense completely fooled. Salisbury led 19-13.

Palmerton’s response? An 11-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter that featured multiple Gursky-to-Taglieri connections, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ben Negley. The sophomore receiver has made a habit of coming through in big moments this season.

The Bombers led 20-19 with nine minutes remaining.

Two minutes later, Cruz struck again — a 63-yard touchdown run that put Salisbury back on top 25-20 with just over seven minutes to play.

But with just over three minutes remaining, another counterpunch from the Bombers gave them a 26-25 lead. Garey finished off another crucial drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge, which would prove to be the game-winner.

“We had to adapt; we had to get new people comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Walkowiak said. “And at the end of the day, we overcame a lot of adversity. I said to those guys, we just can’t say those words (improvise, adapt, overcome). We have to own those words. And that was the big thing. They owned all those words. I’m proud of their effort. I mean, they did everything we asked for and then some.”

On the ensuing Falcons’ possession, Cruz, who had been unstoppable all night, fumbled after a hard hit. It was a bang-bang, close play, as Cruz did half of a somersault in the air, with his forearms close to being down first. Jacob Walkowiak had a nose for the football and recovered it for Palmerton, which proved to be one of the biggest moments of the season for the Bombers.

But, of course, the drama wasn’t over just yet.

Facing fourth-and-1 in Salisbury territory, the Bombers needed one yard to end it, as the Falcons were out of time-outs. Garey, behind an offensive line that battled all night despite the injury-depleted roster, picked up a yard and a half to seal the victory.

“This one, they’re going to remember the rest of their lives,” Walkowiak said. “Jake’s going to remember ‘I caused a fumble and recovered it.’ We ran the clock out — Mikey Garey’s going to remember those things. Ben Negley catching that touchdown. These are big moments.”

CAN’T GUARD GAREY … The sophomore had a monster night, including 60 rushing yards on Palmerton’s go-ahead TD drive alone. He finished the game with over 120 rushing yards.

LOOKING AHEAD … Palmerton will host Notre Dame next week.

Palmerton 26, Salisbury 25

Palmerton 7 6 0 13 - 26

Salisbury 7 0 12 6 - 25

S - Claudio 17 pass from Frye (Fitzgerald kick)

P - Garey 2 run (Moyzan kick)

P - Garey 18 run (kick failed)

S - Cruz 21 run (kick blocked)

S - Gonzalz 85 pass from Cruz (kick failed)

P - Negley 12 pass from Gursky (Moyzan kick)

S - Cruz 63 run (run failed)

P - Garey 2 run (run failed)