*Time: 7:30 p.m.
*Records: Salisbury 7-4; Pisgah 8-3
*Bracket: 2AA
*Seeds: No. 11 Salisbury vs. No. 6 Pisgah
*Series: First meeting
*Last week: Salisbury pummeled Providence Grove 64-7; Pisgah overwhelmed Smoky Mountain 63-0
*Next week: The winner takes on No. 14 Chase (4-7) or No. 3 Hibriten (10-1)
*Home and road splits: Salisbury is officially 3-2 on the road with forfeit losses to Central Davidson and Ledford; Pisgah is 4-1 at home
*Game notes: Senior backs Dario Hamilton and A.J. Ford have combined for 1,747 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns this season. They’ll lead the Hornets on a mission to Canton, which is near Asheville.Obviously, the Hornets’ seed after four late forfeits isn’t ideal. The rest of the 11-0s in the state get a breather tonight, but Salisbury will have a serious test right away on the road. If it gets past Pisgah, it’s likely staring at another rough road trip to once-beaten Hibriten. The Hornets still have the opportunity to make an on-field statement; they’ll just have to make it away from home.
Pisgah is a good team that lost to 3A power Tuscola and conference rivals Brevard and East Henderson.
Pisgah is a team that throws the ball very well. Tyler Jaynes is the second Pisgah quarterback in history to pass for more than 5,000 yards in his career, and he has nearly 2,000 this season. He was 8-for-9 for 106 yards last week.
Sophomore Travis Smalling rushed for 189 yards on 15 carries last week, so Pisgah has some balance.
Salisbury’s secondary will be tested, but it’s been a good unit.
The Black Bears haven’t faced a Rowan team since they lost 24-20 at North Rowan in the 2001 playoffs.