By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
When November 2008 rolled around, the best football team in Rowan County ó record-wise ó was the Salisbury Hornets.
They had just trounced North Rowan and stood 10-0.
It all came crashing down when an ineligible player led to four forfeits. A playoff loss to Pisgah left the Hornets talking about a very weird ending to a 7-5 season.
No one talks about last year anymore because there’s too many positives surrounding the 2009 squad.
Salisbury lost A.J. Ford and Dario Hamilton in the backfield but the wishbone may actually be better this year. It will definitely be faster.
Romar Morris, although not starting in the backfield last year, has already been tabbed as preseason Player of the Year in the Central Carolina Conference. Coach Joe Pinyan knows that if you give the state champion sprinter an inch, he’ll take it a mile. Or at least, 100 yards.
“He’s such a good athlete, we’ve got to find ways to get the ball in his hands,” Pinyan said of the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder. “We’ve got to get him out there where he can just disappear.”
The junior will be joined by two sophomores ó Dejoun Jones and Dominique Dismuke.
“Dejoun is more of an elusive runner while Dominique is more of a bully-type runner,” Pinyan said. “With Dismuke, a 3-yard run might turn into 23.”
Pinyan not only has the speed, he has a bull at fullback in 5-8, 195-pound stud Ike Whitaker, the strongest player on the team.
“If he gets hurt, I’m going to the house,” Pinyan said with a laugh.
Pinyan has two juniors waiting for their turn to run ó James Means and Louis Smith.
“You feel real lucky to be able to replace top-caliber athletes with other top-caliber athletes,” Pinyan said. “We just need to teach them how to block for each other.”
Handing off to the backs is three-year starter John Knox, just a junior. The 5-11, 175-pound quarterback is the bona fide leader.
“He’s a bright spot,” Pinyan said. “John knows the terminology and he knows the offense. He can throw it or run it.”
Pinyan said he tells Knox it’s like buying a new Lexus.
“We’ve paid the insurance. Now, here’s the keys. Don’t wreck it,” Pinyan said with a smile. “We’re going to ask John to do a lot of things.”
Knox’s backup is Riley Gallagher, who led the jayvees to an 8-2 mark last season.
“Riley may not be the fastest player on the field, but he makes good decisions,” Pinyan said.
When Salisbury throws, it will look toward unproven talent. Pinyan thinks sophomore Daquan Robertson is a good receiver. Juniors John Jarrett, Greg Holt and Alex Weant are first-time players. Junior Myles Blakeney can play several positions. Gallagher may even play tight end.
The offensive line is thin but has improved daily. The only returning starter is senior Ronald Phillips, a 6-1, 230-pound center.
“A lot will depend on him,” Pinyan said. “Like any sport, you’ve got to be good up the middle. If the center’s good, we have a chance.”
Pinyan hopes Phillip Ledbetter has a good year. The 6-2, 225-pound senior guard has worked harder then anyone.
Juniors Vernie Clement, Stephen Dale and Daniel Raynor will see action on the line. Clement has great feet. Dale has shown improvement. Raynor has been a bright spot after moving from defense.
“We’re a very average offensive line. There’s no Pangburns,” said Pinyan, referring to West Rowan’s All-State center Timmy Pangburn. “But when you’ve got quick backs, they only need a seam. We want our linemen to knock them out of the way, not knock them down.”
Defensively, Salisbury could be the best in the CCC. The Hornets return quality talent everywhere.
Pinyan lauds his big defensive line, led by Kiontae Rankin, who is B-I-G. Pinyan’s version of “The Refrigerator” has slimmed down from 420 pounds to 391. The 6-4 senior gives new meaning to clogging the middle.
“Keke can’t get tired after two or three plays,” Pinyan said. “And he’s worked hard and done the right things.”
Returning starter Justin Adkins is 6-5, 240.
“He played a lot for us,” Pinyan said. “He’s gotten tougher.”
Joseph Jones, at 6-1, 205, moved over from linebacker. But he’s hurt so Pinyan must turn to Donovan Bush, Terrance McElrath, Norris Rankin and Donte Hoover.
At linebacker, Pinyan says, “We’ve got three good ones” in seniors Linares Pagan (6-0, 228), Chris Bruce (5-10, 185) and Stephen Carter (5-9, 190).
“They have different strengths and feed off each other,” Pinyan said.
While Morris is the incredible athlete on offense, Darien Rankin is that version on defense. The 6-0, 185-pound junior will play the Hornet position (part safety and outside linebacker).
“If there’s a better all-around athlete in the county I’d like to know who it is,” Pinyan said.
Tre Jackson has turned some heads. Justin Franklin, Rico Allison, Marqui Ross and Aaron Ross are also options.
The secondary is star-studded, led by returning senior starters Dominique Phillips and Jeremiah Stockdale.
Phillips follows in the footsteps of another great free safety, Brandon Cathcart.
“Putting his name with Brandon is such a compliment,” Pinyan said.
“Dominique’s such a leader. He arrives at the line of scrimmage with a nasty attitude. He flies around making plays he shouldn’t make.”
Stockdale stands only 5-8, 145, but came away with four interceptions last season. He joins another mighty mite in 5-5 senior Joseph Figueroa at cornerback.
Tyler Downs, Tyree Oglesby and Justin Lewis will see time.
Replacing kicker Frankie Cardelle, who signed with N.C. Central, are soccer players David Simons and Paul Kollie. Knox can also punt.
Pinyan makes three points.
“You’ve heard the saying, ‘Where’s Waldo?’ ” Pinyan said. “We’re hoping other teams are asking, ‘Where’s Morris?’ We can take it all the way at any time.”
Which leads to the second concern. With a quick-strike offense, there may not be many time-consuming drives.
“We can’t afford our defensive guys getting tired,” he said. “We need to dominate on the defensive side of the ball.”
And that third concern? It really isn’t a concern at all. Forgetting the end of last season won’t be a problem. The Hornets are thinking only about another good start on Friday.

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Follow the Hornets

Aug. 21 at South Rowan
Aug. 28 at East Rowan
Sept. 4 Carson
Sept. 11 West Rowan
Sept. 18 at North Rowan
Sept. 25 Davie County
Oct. 2 Open
Oct. 9 at West Davidson*
Oct. 16 Central Davidson*
Oct. 23 at Lexington*
Oct. 30 at Thomasville*
Nov. 6 East Davidson*

Game time: 7:30 p.m.
*2A Central Carolina