FOXBOROUGH — No. 8 Fairhaven played the role of the villain in No. 3 Salem’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1999, defeating the Witches, 26-22, at Gillette Stadium Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Devils scored 2:59 into the game, and never slowed down. Justin Marques – who scored four touchdowns – put a lid on it with 3:48 to play, finding the endzone again.

Corey Grimes found Quinn Rocco Ryan for a 73-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for Salem’s biggest highlight. Devante Ozuna scored a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion off a pass from Grimes to Logan Abboud.

Albert Pujols scored a late touchdown for Salem, but to no avail as Fairhaven recovered an onside kick to tick the clock away.

Despite defeat, what a season it was for the Witches, who finished with 10 wins, three losses, winning streaks of six and four, and three 50-point games.

Salem won three tournament matchups against Dennis-Yarmouth, Cardinal Spellman, and Stoneham to reach the Big Game in Division 6.