By Mike London
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WELCOME – Salisbury’s football team will be human this season.

There’s not much doubt about that, but the Hornets, moving forward without record-breakers Mike Geter, Deuce Walker and Jamal Rule, could still be pretty good.

The Hornets showed their strength in the season opener on Friday, winning a hard-fought away game at North Davidson, a well-coached 3A team with a high-level kicking game, 20-12.

“It was ugly, but it was a win,” said Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett. “We’re getting better every week.”

Hank Webb, the new starting quarterback and still a kicker and punter, led the Hornets. Webb threw a touchdown pass, kicked a field goal and a PAT, and ran for a 2-point conversion.

The new receiver appears to be Macari House, who caught the touchdown. The new lead running back is Hez Krider, who was a workhorse and scored a touchdown thanks to a great block on the right side.

North Davidson opened the game with an offensive drive that was capped by a 36-yard field goal by Connor Dunn for a 3-0 lead.

Salisbury responded well with a drive of their own. Webb threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to House to complete the scoring, and Webb made it 8-3 when he kept the ball on an option play for a 2-point conversion.

In the scoreless second quarter, the defense dominated and at halftime the Hornets still led 8-3.

Krider’s 7-yard rushing TD and Webb’s PAT increased the lead to 15-3 in the third quarter.

Dunn scored another 40-yard field goal for the Black Knights, increasing the lead to 15-6.

North Davidson then made a stop and forced Webb to punt, but the Black Knights fumbled the ball and the Hornets intercepted it. Salisbury could not move the ball after that break, but Webb kicked a 35-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter to extend the lead back to 18-6.

Amir Dalton scored a 4-yard touchdown for the Black Knights to make the score 18-12 in the fourth quarter. The Black Knights had plenty of time to catch up, but the Salisbury defense was able to stop them.

The Black Knights had the ball late and were desperate. Salisbury’s Ny’Gel Elliott was credited with a sack for a safety on the game’s final play to tie the score.

The Hornets won the 2023 opening game 42-0 against North Davidson.

Salisbury plays at home against Walkertown this Friday.