High school football: Hornets roll against Person

Published 10:09 pm Thursday, September 12, 2024

Staff report

SALISBURY — Person County’s football team came to Salisbury’s Ludwig Stadium on Thursday night undefeated, but left 3-1 after a flurry of Hank Webb touchdown passes, field goals, PATs, touchbacks and 60-yard punts.

“We played well,” Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett said. “Our guys stepped up and had a great game,”

Webb, a kicking QB, steered the Hornets (3-1) to an easier than expected 38-7 non-conference victory in a game moved up a night due to weather concerns. Person had crushed its first three opponents, 118-15. The Rockets won 54-0 last week.

But Salisbury’s defense, which registered a shutout last week at East Rowan, turned in another stingy performance that included collecting two big first-half turnovers.

Webb threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. He completed 14 of 25 passes.

Macari House had six catches for 103 yards and two TDs. Jay’lin Johnson had two catches for 83 yards and a TD. Evan Koontz had four catches for 43 yards.

The game began with a Webb touchback on the kickoff and a tone-setting three-and-out by the Hornets’ defense.

Webb’s 40-yard completion to House led to a pointblank Webb field goal and a 3-0 lead five minutes into the game.

A fumble recovery by Zahir Brown at the Person 30 gave the Hornets a short field. and a Hez Krider 7-yard scoring run made it 9-0. Webb’s PAT was blocked.

Am interception by Torian Brown led to a 35-yard field goal by Webb for a 12-0 lead. Then the Hornets tacked on a safety for 14-0 when Person had an errant snap out of punt formation.

When Person kicked off following the safety, Da’Rrius Jefferies returned it into Person territory. Webb threw a touchdown pass to House and kicked the point for a 21-0 lead.

Person scored before halftime to get back to 21-7, but the Hornets didn’t let up any defensively in the second half.

Webb’s third field goal of the game and eighth of the season made it 24-7.

Touchdown passes by Webb to House and  Johnson (52 yards) pushed Salisbury’s lead to 38-7.

Salisbury’s defense had its back to the wall once, but Jackson Sparger had a sack on a fourth-and-goal play.

Webb is having a unique season with 10 touchdown passes and eight field goals.

Salisbury starts Central Carolina Conference play with a bang next week when it travels to Thomasville.