Staff report

SALISBURY — Lexington’s football team provided the serious challenge Salisbury Hornet fans have been waiting for, and the home team proved equal to the task on a crisp Friday night at Ludwig Stadium.

The game was in doubt for three quarters, but Salisbury pulled away in the fourth for a 37-16 decision. It was the seventh straight victory for the Hornets (8-1, 5-0) and the first setback in the Central Carolina Conference for the tenacious Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-1).

“We had a lot of kids who played great games, offense and defense,” Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett said.

SHS quarterback Hank Webb led the offense with another devastating outing — 25 completions, 274 passing yards, three TD passes, plus a critical rushing TD. Webb, who has passed for a single-season school record of 1,767 yards, put it in the air 38 times. Macari House (10 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD), Jaylyn Smith (5 catches, 88 yards, 2 TDs) and Jay’lin Johnson (7 catches, 57 yards) made the plays.

House is closing on the school record for receiving yards in a season. He has 709. The record set by Deuce Walker a year ago is 714.

Hez Krider, rolling behind stout blocking, did more than his share with 134 rushing yards on 27 carries.

The game included a perfect Senior Night moment. Offensive lineman Bo Brincefield was hurt early this season. That injury led to a physical exam and the discovery of a rare medical condition that will prevent Brincefield from competing in contact sports going forward. But he was cleared to kick on Senior Night if the opportunity arose, and he trotted onto the field and drilled the extra point that gave the Hornets a 23-8 lead at the half.

The Hornets got their first points on a safety.

Webb’s first TD pass went to House, who made a sensational catch at the goal line on a 24-yard play. Webb’s  PAT kick made it 9-0.

Safety Bryce Dalton made it 16-0, when he intercepted a pass near the Salisbury 45 and quickly turned into a tailback. He found his blockers down the sideline, made a great cutback and took it all the way. It was his fourth TD of the season and his second pick-six.

Lexington scored on defense and got a 2-point conversion for 16-8. Webb’s rushing TD and Brincefield’s PAT pushed the lead back to 23-8.

Lexington got back to 23-16 in the third quarter to keep the pressure on the Hornets, but Webb connected with Smith over the middle and on a post for TDs of 32 and 36 yards to put the game away.

Emmanuel Asare had an interception for the Hornets.

Keial Matthews had a terrific game with three tackles for loss. Samarion Collins had a sack. Ny’Gel Elliott was tough to handle at nose guard.

The Hornets are open this wee.They can sit back and watch North Rowan and Lexington duke it out in Lexington on Friday.