By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

WELCOME— Salisbury’s football team will be human this season.

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

The Hornets showed some toughness in Friday’s season opener by winning 20-12 in a competitive road game at North Davidson, a well-coached 3A program with a high-level kicking game.

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

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

The new go-to receiver appears to be Macari House, who had the TD catch. The new lead running back is Hez Krider, who was a workhorse and punched in a touchdown behind some terrific right-side blocking.

North Davidson opened the game with a scoring drive that was capped by a 40-yard field goal by Connor Dunn for a 3-0 lead.

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

The defenses ruled during a scoreless second quarter, and the Hornets still led by a baseball-ish 8-3 at the break.

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

Dunn booted another 40-yard field goal for the Black Knights to made it 15-6.

North Davidson then got a stop and forced Webb to punt, but the Black Knights muffed it and the Hornets recovered. Salisbury couldn’t move the ball after that break, but Webb kicked a 35-yard field goal as the third quarter ended to push the lead back to 18-6.

Amir Dalton had a 4-yard rushing touchdown for the Black Knights to make it an 18-12 game in the fourth quarter, and there was ample time left for the Black Knights to rally, but Salisbury’s defense got the stops it needed.

The Black Knights had the ball late, and were in desperation mode. Salisbury’s Ny’Gel Elliott was credited with a sack for a safety on the final play of the game to set the final score.

The Hornets won 42-0 against North Davidson in the 2023 opener.

Salisbury is home this Friday against Walkertown.