By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Jackson Sparger is an outside linebacker who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 153 pounds, modest physical dimensions that make certain this will be the Salisbury High senior’s last fling with football no matter how many fumbles he forces.

But Sparger has an attacking attitude and a million-dollar mindset. He understands fall Fridays aren’t about trying to impress recruiters. This is about making lifelong memories with his friends, doing his best to win for his family, his classmates, his teammates and his coaches.

There won’t be any regrets when it’s over because he’s holding nothing back.

“Sparger is going 100 miles an hour 100 percent of the time,” Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett said. “Never have to worry about him for a second.”

Sparger is an excellent golfer. He grew up on the course at the Country Club, so he’s been swinging clubs a long time.

He shot 1-under 71 on the last day of the 2A State Championships in Monroe last spring and helped the Hornets charge to third place after a rough first day. He was 20th, but he realizes that if he’d put two 71s together, and he’s capable of that, he would have been tied for third.

His athletic goal for his senior year is simply to earn a chance to play college golf.

Providing additional distraction and action every spring is the fact that he’s also a pretty good baseball player. There are days when he plays nine holes for the Hornets, and then reports to the baseball field. Baseball is the sport his father, North Rowan graduate Jason Sparger, played at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Sparger is a versatile athlete, who is thinking seriously about a return to the wrestling mat to stay busy during the winter months. He didn’t wrestle last season and missed it.

“You get to be a senior and you start realizing how limited your time is to play high school sports,” Sparger said. “Golf is by best sport,  the sport where I have the best chance to play in college, but I want to get as much as I can out of every sport.”

Sparger entered this football season with uncertainty about his role. His offensive position last fall was backup H-back, but Salisbury’s new coordinator doesn’t use an H-back, so that position became obsolete.

“I practice as a backup slot receiver for a while, but then I was at practice one day, and I heard, “Sparger, get with the running backs!”

That was a shock. Sparger never in his wildest dreams envisioned himself as a running back, but he has provided welcome depth behind Hez Krider and Jamantay Cox. He’s not just a name at the bottom of the depth chart. He’s carried nine times for 51 yards.

“I’ve gotten to where I love running the ball,” Sparger said. “I just kind of do my thing, run as hard as I can.”

Doing his thing included a touchdown catch in the Week 3 romp at East Rowan.

“I caught a pass and I saw two guys between me and the goal line, but I was able to keep my legs moving until I scored,” Sparger said. “Just kept churning.”

On defense, Sparger was a backup linebacker on the strong 2023 squad.

His first start of his senior season came in Salisbury’s 38-7 win against previously unbeaten Person last Thursday.

“I was comfortable out there because I’ve played a lot of outside linebacker in the past and was on the field a lot last season,” Sparger said. “But starting for the first time did feel different. They were talented, but we had done a lot of scouting on them and we’d done a lot of good film work, so we usually knew what was coming. My job was contain, force plays back, not let them get outside me.”

Sparger was successful. He also had a sack in the Person game on a fourth-and-goal play at the Salisbury 8-yard line.

There was a timeout before that play and I switched sides with Da’Rius Jefferies,” Sparger said. “When they lined up, there was no receiver on my side and I had a chance to rush the quarterback. I got to him. I kind of jumped in the air and celebrated that one on the sideline with Hank Webb.”

Sparger has been credited with nine tackles and two forced fumbles.

There’s also special teams, and his work there is as important as anything he does for the Hornets. He’s the long snapper, so when Webb kicks a field goal or booms a punt, Sparger is the guy who got it started.

Webb is tied for the lead in the state with eight field goals. He’s 16-for-17 on extra points.

“Hank has been great kicking, but it takes all three of us for that process to work,” Sparger said. “I’ve got to get the ball back there quickly, and Evan (Koontz) has to give Hank a good hold.”

Webb also does the throwing. His success in his first year as the starting quarterback hasn’t shocked Sparger.

“Hank was behind an even better player (Mike Geter) for years, but he was getting reps every practice and he has more experience than people realize,” Sparger said. “It’s been fun to watch Hank work. It’s his time.”

The same can be said for Sparger, who is savoring every minute of his final football season. Each tackle he makes, each time he gets to run the ball, each time he executes on a snap for three more Hornet points— all those things bring a smile to his face.

“Sparger is on all our special teams,” Trivett said. “His toughness is helping our team in a lot of ways.”

Salisbury plays at Thomasville on Friday as Central Carolina Conference play begins with a bang.

“That’s a really big one right out of the gate,” Trivett said. “Like us, Thomasville lost a lot of guys from last year’s team, but they’re still talented.  They’re still Thomasville.”