From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

KEYSER, W.Va. — Jeremy Green had deeper pockets than Fort Hill’s defense when it came down to big plays as the senior running back led Keyser to a 13-7 win over the Sentinels Friday at Stayman Field.

Green supplied almost all of the plays needed for the Golden Tornado, scoring both of his team’s touchdowns and getting the big chunks of yardage when Keyser had a hard time sustaining a drive. He rushed four times for 62 yards, and caught three passes for 79 yards, including the game-tying score on a 50-yard catch and run. He also had 74 return yards, which all came on the game-deciding touchdown.

Green showed an early flash when he traveled from the Keyser 35 to the Fort Hill 20 on the Golden Tornado’s first play from scrimmage. The 45 yards he gained on the play would have accounted for half of the Sentinels 90 yards.

Fort Hill tightened up immediately by stopping two straight running plays and getting a sack. The Sentinels then held Keyser to a short gain on a fourth-down pass to take over at their own 22.

Keyser went to Green for a 13-yard pass and another first down on its second drive, but could get nothing more and was forced to punt.

Fort Hill’s Johnathan Foster broke a 22-yard run on its next possession, but the ball was knocked loose and saved by one Keyser player from going out of bounds before being recovered by another Tornado.

It was Green again giving Keyser a shot in the arm when he got a big punt return, and then a nice chunk of yards on the ground to help set Keyser up with its best scoring chance.

Preston Hartman caught a high snap and was able to get around the Sentinels’ defensive line to get into the end zone, but the play was called back after an illegal use of hands penalty. Faced with a fourth-and-four after a completion, Keyser went to Matt Wilmer but wound up inches short.

After holding on downs, Fort Hill picked up its second first down before fumbling the ball back to Keyser.

Keyser had the ball with a first-and-goal from the 10, but the Sentinels defense rose up again to squash another attempt and get the ball back to the Fort Hill offense.

The Sentinels then put together it’s best drive of the half, and started with a 10-yard run from Sam Walker from its own two-yard line. Fort Hill would get all the way out to its own 41, but Keyser was able to strip it away from a Sentinel for their third turnover of the half.

The Fort Hill defense bailed the offense out once again when it kept Keyser out of the end zone before blocking a field goal as the first half expired.

The second half started with the most impressive drive from either team as they held the ball for almost 11 minutes, and pounded the ball all the way down inside the Keyser five.

Keyser’s defense couldn’t do what Fort Hill’s had done so well in the first half, and the Sentinels were the first on the board when Marcus Lashley cashed in on a five-yard run with 1:08 left. Fort Hill ate up much of the clock by going 80 yards in 17 plays.

Lashley would lead all rushers with 139 yards on 25 carries.

Another big play on Keyser’s next possession put the Tornado in position to get on the board, but the Fort Hill defense continued the theme by stopping yet another drive.

The defense wouldn’t have a chance to make a big stop on Keyser’s next drive. On third and 10 at midfield, Hartman rolled toward the left sideline and threw the ball just before going out of bounds. The ball found Green waiting at the 20-yard line, and he went in from there to tie the score after John Purdy made the extra point.

Hartman completed 9-of-13 for 152 yards, getting 50 on the touchdown to Green and 40 on a completion to Matt Wilmer.

Fort Hill would punt the ball away on it’s next drive, and this time the defense wouldn’t even get on the field as Green made a few moves and was gone on his way to a 74-yard return.

Joey Amtower had eight tackles and a fumble recovery, while Taige Redman had seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Brandon Wilson came up with a big sack on Fort Hill’s final drive.

The teams were close in total offense (225-207, Keyser) and Fort Hill actually led 13-8 in first downs.

Keyser (2-0) plays its second straight Maryland opponent when it travels to Northern on Friday. Fort Hill (1-1) will host Dunbar (Washington D.C.) on Friday.