SALEM — The Blue Devils were likely a few players short when they took the field for their first home game of the season Friday night — but it could have been a lot worse.

Seven Salem High School football players received minor injuries after the Volvo they were traveling in hit a tree and a utility pole and rolled over into a drainage culvert at the intersection of Coventry Lane and East Broadway Thursday night. It is believed they were returning from a team dinner. Police said they would not release the names of the victims because they are juveniles. It is not clear if they are all varsity team members.

Police believe speed was the only factor in causing the 16-year-old driver to lose control on a curve and crash. All seven teens were out of the car when police arrived at around 9 p.m., according to Salem police Lt. Mike Wagoner. Fire personnel and four ambulances also responded to the scene. The teens were taken to Parkland Medical Center, Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Wagoner said.

“The majority of the injuries were fairly minor with the exception of one injury that appeared more severe,” Wagoner said.

One teen remained in the hospital on Friday. His injuries were said to not be life threatening.

The road remained closed for a couple of hours while the Traffic Accident Reconstruction team investigated, Wagoner said. No charges have been filed and the incident remains under investigation.

Varsity football coach Jack Gati said he received a late-night phone call telling him there had been an accident but the players had escaped serious injury. He has since spoken with five of the seven teens involved, he said. The students weren't in school Friday so they couldn't play Friday night according to school policy, Gati said. Overall, everyone is just grateful that no one was killed, Gati said.

“Someone must have been watching over them because the images are frightening,” Gati said.

Another late-night phone call set off every parent's nightmare for Michael Loffredo, whose son was involved in the accident. Hearing the words that your child has been in an accident is terrifying, Loffredo said. He and his wife thank God that none of the boys was seriously injured, Loffredo said.

His son has a concussion and can't recall the details of the accident, Loffredo said. He's impressed that the boys were able to stand together and assist each other despite being dazed and confused by the crash, Loffredo said.

“The boys acted as a team,” Loffredo said. “They helped each other out of the car when it was pretty much totaled.”

Preparations continued for the season's first home game Friday afternoon.

The marching band practiced and athletes scrimmaged on the fields. Freshman football player Mike Poulin said students were shocked as word of the accident spread through Salem High School Friday morning.

“We're all thinking about the crash still, but we're all grateful no one died,” Poulin said.

In a thriller, Salem edges Memorial