OLEAN — Salamanca leaned on its physical play in the trenches and came up with just enough big conversions to escape Bradner Stadium with an exciting 19-13 non-league win over Olean on Friday night, opening the season for both programs.

Warriors coach Chad Bartoszek felt that the team’s play in the trenches ended up being the difference.

“What you saw tonight were some glimpses of what Salamanca football is supposed to be: physical, fast, disciplined,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s really nice to come out here and start with a win. Our guys up front were disciplined. We didn’t give up much in the run game, and that makes it hard for an opponent to move the ball.”

Salamanca set the tone with a methodical opening drive, primarily on the ground, capped by a Jesse Hill touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. They doubled it early in the second quarter on another long march, highlighted by a conversion on fourth-and-eight — a dig route caught just behind a roaming middle linebacker, before Conner Seely finished off the drive with a touchdown reception from a screen pass.

Bartoszek referenced that fourth down conversion as one of the most important in the game.

“In a good, relatively equal game, first downs in tough situations and turnovers are going to make the difference,” he said.

Olean, however, fought back after a slow start and a devastating early injury to senior Austin Miles, a two-way standout at wide receiver and defensive back who was carried off the field after the Huskies’ first play from scrimmage.

Olean coach Phil Vecchio said that Miles’ injury ”makes me sick” and that the prognosis didn’t look encouraging. He called Miles “a great representation of what we believe an Olean football player should be — tough and hardworking.”

Even following the injury, the Huskies continued to fight back. Quarterback Joe Mest helped orchestrate a late second-quarter drive, with Dom Hirliman punching in a one-yard score to cut the deficit to 13-7 before halftime.

The Huskies spent much of the second half in Salamanca territory but couldn’t finish drives, hurt by penalties and missed fourth-down conversions. Salamanca added what proved to be the decisive score when Seely connected on a screen for a touchdown to make it 19-7 midway through the third.

After multiple failed drives starting in Salamanca territory, Olean’s Mykel Rivera finally broke loose for a 30-yard screen pass touchdown with 1:59 left to close the gap to 19-13. The action peaked when the Huskies managed to recover the ensuing onside kick, but Salamanca’s defense held one final time, forcing a fumble on third down to clinch a difficult road victory.

“I thought we battled back, we fought back really,” Vecchio said. “But I don’t think we were ready to match their intensity on the lines. We left a ton of plays out there. We were on their side of the field offensively the whole second half, but we just couldn’t get the big play to break.”

For Salamanca, the win came with imperfections, but also the kind of toughness Bartoszek expects. “I’m glad to get out of there with a win,” he said while cracking a smile. “We certainly made it interesting.”