Staff report

SALISBURY — There wasn’t much doubt the better team won at Ludwig Stadium in Friday’s third-round 2A playoff game, but Salisbury stayed in it until the final minute.

Forest Hills controlled the line of scrimmage and amassed 523 yards of balanced offense in a 38-31 victory over the Hornets that ended Salisbury’s 10-game winning streak.

Coach Clayton Trivett’s Salisbury team hung in there with a turnover-free game, a lot of Hank Webb scrambles and a major edge on special teams. The Hornets got a kickoff return touchdown from Jaylyn Smith. Webb boomed punts and kickoffs and booted a school-record 49-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Salisbury frequently had better field position for drive starts, but Forest Hills had little trouble going 80 yards against Salisbury’s defense, and even had a 90-yard drive.

The fifth-seeded Hornets (11-2) still had a shot until 13th-seeded Forest Hills (10-3) punched out a late first down with three no-nonsense running plays. Facing fourth-and-12 after a sack, Webb had punted to the Forest Hills 11 with time running low. With only one timeout left, Salisbury’s only hope was to force a three-and-out and a punt to get the ball back with some time left on the clock. Forest Hills ended the suspense with a 4-yard run on first down, a 5-yard run on second down and a third-and-1 run that moved the chains with a minute left to play.

It was victory formation for the Yellow Jackets after that.

Forest Hills amassed 320 rushing yards, with tackle-breaking Rodney Smith piling up 229 on 22 carries. Smith scored two touchdowns. Kylan Polk added 13 carries for 92 yards. The Hornets struggled to slow either of them down.

With plenty of time to throw, Forest Hills quarterback Zach Dilworth also put together a glowing statistical night. He completed 14-of-21 passes for 203 yards and two TDs. Jerel Bolder had four catches for 115 yards and a score.

Salisbury scored first, with Webb completing a 40-yard pass and hitting Jay’lin Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown to cap a 74-yard drive. It was Johnson’s 15th TD catch of the season.

Forest Hills answered easily, rolling 80 yards. It was 7-all after a quarter.

Then Salisbury’s offense sputtered, and Forest Hills took a 14-7 lead when Smith broke a 59-yard run.

Salisbury responded with a Hez Krider touchdown for 14-all with eight minutes left in the half.

Polk’s 52-yard run gave Forest Hills a 21-14 lead.

Salisbury recovered a fumble. The Hornets couldn’t move the ball after that turnover, but Webb’s thunderous field goal reduced the halftime deficit to 21-17.

Forest Hills threatened to break it open in the early stages of the third quarter, driving 80 yards for a touchdown to open the half and adding a field goal after Salisbury failed on a faked punt. It was 31-17 for a few seconds, but that’s when Smith returned the kickoff 82 yards to make it 31-24.

Forest Hills had to start its next drive at its 10-yard line, but moved 90 yards, scoring with 11 minutes left in the game to take a 38-24 lead.

Salisbury overcame penalties and a third-and-21 to get back in the game. Webb got 15 yards on a scramble to make it a manageable fourth-and-6 and he completed a pass to Krider for the first down that kept a desperate drive alive. A completion to Macari House gave the Hornets first-and-goal at the 9, and Webb’s second TD pass of the night — his 32nd of the season — went to Krider from 3 yards out. Now it was 38-31 with seven minutes left.

Salisbury’s defense got a big stop, Forest Hills got off a short punt, and the Hornets got the ball back with four minutes left at the Salisbury 44.

A first-down completion netted only 3 yards. A second-down pass fell incomplete, and Webb was sacked trying to throw on third-and-7. The loss was 5 yards. On fourth-and-12, with under three minutes left, the Hornets were faced with a tough decision. The Hornets opted to punt. Webb got off another good one to the Forest Hills 11, but Salisbury couldn’t get the ball back.

Salisbury fumbled twice, but didn’t lose either. The lost fumble in the second quarter by Forest Hills was the game’s only turnover.

Webb was only sacked twice, but there were a lot of QB pressures by the Yellow Jackets.

Forest Hills will play Brevard (10-2) next. Brevard pounded East Rutherford 42-6.

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Salisbury stats will be added when available.