By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — It’s very possible that the Salisbury High single-season passing and receiving records set by Hornet heroes Mike Geter and Deuce Walker in 2023 will have a very short shelf life.

Hank Webb, whose QB chops were unproven prior to his senior season, is on pace to top Geter, while senior Macari House, the main man for the receiving corps for the first time, is on track to top Walker’s receiving marks.

A receiver/kicker who took QB snaps only during mop-up time in 2023, Webb had three pass completions in 12 attempts.

House had a decent junior year with 17 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown, but he accounted for about 500 fewer yards than Walker.

But House has taken a quantum leap in 2024 and is leading the county with 31 catches. He has five TD catches.  He’s second in the county with 470 receiving yards. He’s second in the county only because North Rowan’s Emari Russell has been phenomenal and leads all 1A programs with 515 receiving yards.

Stout stats are products of opportunity, and Salisbury has passed the ball more than any team in the county so far. That’s highly unusual. Webb has thrown 137 times in five games, and he’s been really good at it, producing 1,162 yards and 14 TDs. His aerial numbers are close to those of North’s outstanding four-year QB Jeremiah Alford, who leads the county in just about everything — except interceptions.

Salisbury coaches insist they’re not stunned by what Webb, House and other unheralded Salisbury offensive players such as Jay’lin Johnson, Evan Koontz and Jackson Sparger have been able to accomplish so far.

The Hornets may have to throw even more in the weeks ahead, with Hez Krider, who had taken over from record-breaker Jamal Rule as the lead running back, sidelined temporarily by a knee injury.

House is a basketball/football guy. He looks like the prototype basketball kid, long and lean, but looks can be deceiving. Football is his main sport.

“He’s still kind of raw as a football player, but we knew he had the talent to do what he’s doing,” Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett said. “He’s become our go-to guy.”

House is modest about his numbers, but he’s going to start getting more attention, not just from the media, but from opposing defensive backs. His eight catches for 158 yards in Monday’s 42-7 West Davidson were eye-opening. That was one of the biggest receiving games in history at a school where the ball has traditionally been moved on the ground.

“Our running game was slow at the start against West Davidson, so we had to open things up,” House said. “I caught some deep posts, made some plays on tunnel screens. Hank did a good job of getting me the ball in space.”

After some empty possessions, House scored the ice-breaking TD on a post.

“I saw where the DB on me was lined up, made eye contact with Hank and just beat my man off the line,” House said. “He made the throw.”

Salisbury led only 7-0 at the half, but gradually pulled away from West Davidson.

“West Davidson is pretty good this year,” Trivett said. They were bigger than us and they made it a challenge for us to run the ball. Fortunately, we were able to throw it. Playing on Mondays is tough and playing on a night when you’re out of school is tough. We were happy we were able to do enough to get the win. House was huge for us.”

The breakout game for House took place against a talented Person squad, as he topped 100 receiving yards, but he’s been productive in every game so far.

Webb had his shakiest start against West Davidson, with two early picks, but then he dialed it in. He completed 18 passes and threw for 276 yards. More than half of those yards were gobbled up by House.

“I’m not shocked, honestly, by what House has been doing this season,” Salisbury receivers coach Ryan Watts said. “We’d seen glimpses, flashes of his talent in the past. I remember a playoff game where he got in and made a catch over the middle, a really tough catch, so I knew he could make it big when the opportunity came. As a coach, watching these kids grow up, it’s a great feeling to see them come through when it’s their time.”

Watts was pleasantly surprised by the stats when he watched the film of the West Davidson game.

“I knew he had over 100 yards because he got 70 on the big play,” Watts said. “But I didn’t realize until after the game that he had eight catches and all those yards. He does things quietly. He’s not really a flashy guy and he’s not a big rah-rah guy, but he does his job well every game.”

House had a touchdown catch on opening night against North Davidson. He says that was important, that it gave him the confidence that he could play a huge role for the Hornets as a senior.

“A lot of us have been waiting for our chance,” House said. “We’ve got something to prove.”

The Hornets don’t look scary this year, but they’re 5-1. There are still some doubters, and there are big Central Carolina Conference games still ahead against talented Lexington and North Rowan teams, but in a lot of ways, Salisbury is the surprise team of the season in the county.

“I think everyone was wondering how Salisbury could be good again,” Watts said. “But what people didn’t know was we had a lot of good players who were chomping at the bit to get in there. They’re getting their chance to take on bigger roles now, and they’re making the most of it.”

 

 

 

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