High school football: Hornets face tough assignment in Forest Hills
Published 4:56 am Thursday, November 28, 2024
By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Forest Hills quarterback Zach Dilworth has more meat on his bones than his Salisbury counterpart Hank Webb, but watching tape of Dilworth isn’t a lot different than watching film of Webb.
With their helmets on, they could almost be taken for the same guy. They aren’t runners, but they are exceptionally accurate throwers, and they are athletic enough to extend plays until they can get the ball down the field to big-play receivers.
Dilworth destroyed Randleman 38-21 last week in the second round of the 2A playoffs with an epic aerial assault. He was 24-for-34 for 388 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. Between them, Jerel Bolder and Kamarion Massey had 17 catches for 237 yards. Both are go-to receivers. Both had over 100 yards.
Forest Hills (9-3) has a stout defense, battle-tested against tremendous teams like undefeated Monroe and 3A power Ashbrook, and runs the ball well enough to finish off games when it has the lead. Forest Hills back Rodney Smith had 17 carries for 76 yards at Randleman last week, not breath-taking numbers, but the same sort of solid production the Hornets count on from Hez Krider.
So Forest Hills is a problem, and it’s coming to Ludwig Stadium on Friday for the third round. Kickoff is earlier than usual for the Hornets (11-1). It will be at 7 p.m.
The Hornets’ defensive task got more challenging against a passing team with the loss of safety Bryce Dalton, who broke his foot just above the ankle in the 10-6 win against Walkertown. He’s had surgery and plans to make it back for a lot of the basketball season, but the football Hornets will miss him. In his first year of varsity football, he was leading Rowan County in touchdowns scored on defense and special teams.
Salisbury’s defense has been good almost every game and stood tall last week with the offense struggling. Linebacker Emmanuel Asare, who had a huge interception and 10 tackles against Walkertown, and interior defensive lineman Ny’Gel Elliott have been standouts all season.
Statistically, the Hornets average a touchdown per game more than Forest Hills and allow a little less, but that can probably be attributed to the difference in schedules. Salisbury has played a good schedule — the Central Carolina Conference’s top five were pretty good this year — but Forest Hills has played an even better one. Both have beaten North Rowan and Lexington.
Salisbury has won 10 in a row since the loss to Walkertown in Week 2, a loss the Hornets avenged last week.
Forest Hills also lost to Walkertown during the regular season. The other losses for the Yellow Jackets were to Monroe and Ashbrook, teams that are still alive in the playoffs. Forest Hills has won its last six games.
The programs clashed twice in the playoffs during Joe Pinyan’s coaching era at Salisbury.
A blocked punt for a touchdown provided early momentum for Forest Hills in a 34-21 win at Salisbury in the third round in 2006, and Forest Hills was able to shut down Salisbury’s running game.
It was a different story in a second-round matchup at Ludwig Stadium in 2010. Romar Morris rushed for 250 yards on 15 carries and scored five touchdowns as Salisbury rolled 41-17 in that one, pilling up 449 rushing yards. Salisbury only completed one pass, but passing proved unnecessary.
Now the old foes from the bee family, Yellow Jackets and Hornets, will meet for a third time. The Massey Ratings favor Forest Hills by six points, with a 28-22 score projection.
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Mooresville is a 14-point underdog at undefeated East Forsyth in the 4A playoffs.
Robinson is a 21-point underdog against Dudley in the 3A playoffs.