Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Salisbury 0-1; East Rowan 1-0
Series: Salisbury leads 25-10
Last meeting: Hornets rolled 35-6 in 2008
Last time East won: Mustangs won 42-21 in 2007
Last week: Salisbury lost to South Rowan 38-20; East Rowan slipped past North Rowan 7-0
Next week: Salisbury is home against Carson; East Rowan is home against Concord
Game notes: Salisbury looks to bounce back after losing to South Rowan for the first time since 2003.
SHS coach Joe Pinyan is 5-1 against the Mustangs. His debut at Salisbury was a 26-0 victory against East in 2003. East coach Brian Hinson is 1-1 against Salisbury. His debut at East was a 42-21 victory against the Hornets in 2007.
East is off to a 1-0 start for only the second time in the last eight seasons. It found a way to beat North Rowan despite managing only 84 yards of offense. QB Jamey Blalock scored East’s only TD.
Linebackers Sam Edmonds and Jordan Hopper helped the Mustangs limit North to 64 yards of offense and post East’s first shutout since it blanked Lake Norman 21-0 in Week 6 of the 2007 season.
Salisbury rushed for more than 400 yards four times last season, but the O-line is a work in progress. The Hornets managed just 157 yards on the ground in their opener.
Pinyan is also looking for an improved effort from his defense, which was shredded by South’s ground game in the second half.
Salisbury gave up 38 points opening night after not allowing more than 25 in any game in 2008. Free safety Dominique Phillips and 390-pound nose tackle Kiontae Rankin headline Salisbury’s defense.