MDHigh.com - Sentinels and Campers clash at Greenway

November 6, 2009

Dave Lomonico
MDHigh.com Publisher

For the last 78 years the city of Cumberland has rallied around two high school football teams that define a region. Tough. Hard-nosed. Blue-collar. Rugged. That's Cumberland football. That's Fort Hill and Allegany.

But what makes them similar is also what separates them. The two schools have been in a constant battle for Western Maryland supremacy since Fort Hill - then called Penn Avenue - opened in 1932. On November 7 at Greenway Avenue Stadium - the home field for both squads -- 15,000 raucous fans will await the most anticipated football game of the year. Homecoming: Fort Hill vs. Allegany.

"It's sort of like Christmas, New Years and homecoming all rolled into one around here," said Fort Hill coach Todd Appel, who has been at the school since 1993. "It's like no other game anywhere. There are not many rivalries that match this. It's special; we're blessed to have it."

The rivalry started with a 21-0 Allegany victory. Fort Hill recorded its first win in 1935, but the Campers dominated the early years. Since then, however, the Sentinels have come away with the majority of the victories and boast a 46-31-4 lifetime record against Allegany. It's a stinging point for the Campers, who must endure the ribbing from Sentinels supporters. Perhaps it's telling that Appel knew the record off the top of his head, but Allegany coach Tom Preaskorn couldn't recall it.

But it's just a game, right? No hard feelings.

Hardly.

The Fort Hill-Allegany rivalry is etched into the community's psyche. It starts at a young age, when wide-eyed boys watch from the stands, dreaming of one day donning a Campers or Sentinels jersey. Eventually, they must choose which team to root for - if it isn't already bestowed upon them. That decision is a life-defining moment, like a bar mitzvah or a Catholic confirmation. The school becomes an integral part of a person's life. Choose Allegany, and you'll be wearing blue shirts, buying blue cars, hanging blue flags. Choose Fort Hill, and the colors change to red.

Days ebb and flow based on how Allegany of Fort Hill perform on Friday night or Saturday afternoon. When they win, the week ahead is a little less stressful. Lose, and the workweek becomes dull and drab ? until next Friday night.

"Fort Hill and Allegany consume the people here for 365 days in the year," Preaskorn said. "It's lasted like this for generations."

But no game can right a season of wrongs (or vice versa) like winning on homecoming. Records are forgotten; win this game and your school has Cumberland bragging rights for the next year.

"Winning this one game can make your entire season," Preaskorn said. "It's just a huge game and a huge rivalry. This is for bragging rights, and if you lose this game then you have to live with it until next season."

In Cumberland, Fort Hill and Allegany are debated like NFL or college teams. Men sit in coffee shops before work and prattle on about the undersized offensive line and the speedy running backs. Later that night perhaps they'll break down the upcoming opponent over a few drinks. Die-hards can recite the entire freshman rosters, with a keen eye towards the varsity stars of tomorrow. Want to stir up a little fire? Start comparing Fort Hill and Allegany.

"It's the talk of the town all year," Preaskorn said. "Everyone is always comparing you to Fort Hill and vice versa."

The talking will cease for two hours on Saturday afternoon. Two varsity football teams will come thundering down the legendary 52 steps at Greenway, like the an army battalion roaring into the valley of death. In the background the band will be blasting foot-stomping tunes while the fans scream in mass hysteria.

"It's something no other school gets to experience," Appel said. "We're spoiled because it's like a college crowd. Some of our kids go away to college and if they don't go to a Division I school they don't have that kind of atmosphere?they're like, 'What happened?'"

Years later the fans and players will remember where they were on homecoming night. The star players will be etched in record books, their deeds recited for generations to come -- Joe Powell,Todd Martin, Glenn Burke, Charlie Lattimer, Earl Bruce, Randy Wolford, Scott McGann. Who will make history this year?

The Game

The early favorite is the team in red. Fort Hill has been simply unstoppable this season. The No. 9 Sentinels have beaten 1A patsies and 4A contenders alike, charging to a 9-0 record and first place in the 1A West Region.

The Sentinels' Wing-T attack is averaging 37 points per game behind an array of skill players and an athletic offensive line. But Fort Hill's pride and joy is their defense, which is giving up less than eight points per game. In the last thee weeks the Sentinels have two shutouts - including a 12-0 victory over Thomas Johnson -- and have allowed a total of seven points.

"The main thing this year has been our defense," Appel said. "We're very aggressive and we pursue the ball well. We have six kids returning who have been through the wars."

The key has been Fort Hill's line. Colton Sibley, Glen Vincent, Andrew Doyle, Justin Dawson, Shawn Metheny and Joe Howser form the best front in Cumberland. The line keeps blockers off the team's two standout linebackers, Garrett Dolly and Dakota Welsh, allowing them to track down ball-carriers. In the secondary, Kwan Kassim, Devin Lee and Sam Walker are shutdown defenders.

"Fort Hill has an excellent defense," Preaskorn said. "They make stops and give their offense short fields to work with."

The offense has, for the most part, capitalized on those short fields. Quarterback Devin Lee, who has been inconsistent at times this season, is coming off a terrific game against Mountain Ridge. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns (to go along with two interceptions on defense). Lee's top targets are split end Dylan Clay, speedy halfback Kassim and tight end Sibley.

But the Sentinels thrive on running the ball behind a stout but young offensive line, led by senior Shane Steckman. That lines pulls out on the edge and opens up holes for Welsh, Walker and Dolly, the three workhorses in the backfield. (Last week, Welsh grinded his way to three touchdowns and is closing in on 1,000 yards for the season.)

"We have a lot of individual weapons who can carry he ball and catch the ball," Appel said. "You can take one away and we can go to another one. It's hard to defend us."

Needless to say, Allegany is going to have their hands full. But don't underestimate the 7-2 Campers, who have run off four straight wins ever since their mid-season meltdown (back-to-back losses to Keyser and St. Albans). The Campers, which average 46 points per game and give up 14, have annihilated their foes during the current stretch, outscoring opponents 194-47.

"Allegany has a real good team," Appel said. "Everyone is saying we're favored but you don't know. If they don't fumble the ball away, who knows, they might be 9-0 and the favorite right now."

Indeed, six turnovers were Allegany's undoing against St. Albans and Keyser, two games they lost by a combined four points. It's a sour subject for Preaskorn, who knows his team could easily be undefeated right now.

"You're never pleased at 7-2 at Allegany," Preaskorn said. "We lost those games not because of our ability but because of our [lack of] execution. You cannot put the ball on the ground and make turnovers against quality opponents."

Controlling the clock and protecting the football is imperative on Saturday afternoon. Look for Allegany to establish the run with standout runners Dustin Wharton and fullback J.D. Hook, who have almost 2,000 yards combined on the season.

"Their backfield is as good as ours is," Appel admitted. "Hook and Wharton are great 'backs."

Hook, however, hurt his knee last week and is questionable to play on homecoming. If the Campers can't get the ground game going, quarterback Drew O'Neal, who stepped in for the injured Demetreous Taylor (broken collarbone) three weeks ago, has to make the downfield throws. Wharton leads the team in receiving and Trevor Jessie is a solid deep threat.

But Allegany won't be able to do much at all if the offensive line can't stop Fort Hill's vaunted front.

"We're not big on the offense line but we're quick," Preaskorn said. "A lot of people don't give us credit up front but they've done an outstanding job all year. We have two outstanding guards in Brandon Bussard and Jake Mullan and two tackles in Matt Wolfe and Luke Messick."

Defensively, Allegany should be fine in the secondary with Hook and Steffen Bonnett leading the way. But Preaskorn admitted that the defensive line has been a concern, although they are "progressing" and have played well at times.

This game could be determined by how well Allegany's defensive front four keeps Fort Hill's blockers off their linebackers. If Campers run stuffers Aaron Leasure and Wharton are free to roam, they might be able to contain the Sentinels' rushing attack. If not, Fort Hill will bust longs runs all day.

"The game will come down to the blocking up front and whoever makes the least mistakes," Appel said. "That's what wins you football games."

The Sentinels have a decided advantage on both sides of the line, which makes them heavy favorites. But this is homecoming, and the Campers will never concede defeat without a fight.

"We certainly have a shot," Preaskorn said. "I think we're a lot better than people give us credit for."

We'll find out on Saturday. All of Cumberland will be watching.

Prediction: The only way Fort Hill loses this game is if they come in unprepared and underestimate Allegany. That shouldn't happen - not on homecoming. Allegany has a playoff-caliber team and could make a run in the postseason, but they probably won't be able to beat Fort Hill in the trenches. Fort Hill 27, Allegany 10

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