Staff report

SALISBURY — Hank Webb threw three touchdown passes, giving him 30 for the season, as Salisbury’s football team beat West Davidson 42-15 at Ludwig Stadium in Friday’s first-round game in the 2A state playoffs.

Salisbury had beaten Central Carolina Conference opponent West Davidson 42-7 in the regular season.

Seeded 28th in the 2A West bracket, West Davidson (6-5) was able to contain Macari House, who entered the game as the county leader in receiving yards, but fifth-seeded Salisbury got a school-record effort from Jay’lin Johnson, who accounted for 197 yards on nine receptions. Johnson was on the receiving end of all of Webb’s touchdown passes. He has 14 TD catches for the season, also a school record.

Hez Krider had two rushing TDs for the Hornets (10-1), who won their ninth straight game since a loss to Walkertown in early September.

A rematch with Walkertown will be next for the Hornets. Seeded 12th, Walkertown (8-3) routed Surry Central 47-23 on Friday and led 47-9 after three quarters.

West Davidson hung with the Hornets for a while, as was the case the first time the Green Dragons tackled the Hornets.

Krider scored for a 7-0 Salisbury lead, but West Davidson scored through the air, and then executed on an onside kick and got the ball right back.

That’s when Bryce Dalton picked off a pass and returned it for a Salisbury TD to put the Hornets ahead to stay at 14-7.

Krider’s second TD made it 21-7, but West Davidson returned the kickoff for a touchdown, added a 2-point conversion and trailed 21-15.

Webb’s first TD pass to Johnson came late in the half and provided a 28-15 halftime cushion.

West Davidson continued to make things interesting in the third quarter, with another onside kick recovery and a faked punt for a first down. but Salisbury’s defense shut out the Green Dragons in the second half.

Webb hit two long pass plays to Johnson for scores, as the Hornets finally were able to pull away.

Dalton had two interceptions.

Keial Matthews and Da’Rrius Jefferies had two tackles for loss each and both forced a fumble.

Emmanuel Asare made nine tackles for the Hornets.

Webb was 6-for-6 on PATs.