Martinsburg pulls away from Fort Hill, 42-10

Sep 25, 2010
From Staff Reports

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Running back David Gladden scored three touchdowns and the Martinsburg Bulldogs took advantage of Fort Hill mistakes to defeat the Sentinels, 42-10, Friday night at Coburn Field.

For the undefeated Bulldogs, the third-rated team in West Virginia Class AAA, the win is their fifth in a row, while the Sentinels drop their second in a row as their record evens to 2-2. It marks the first time in nine years Fort Hill has lost two games in a row, the Sentinels having lost three in a row twice in 2001.

Gladden rushed for 148 yards on 20 carries for the Bulldogs, while quarterback Brandon Ashenfelter picked up 51 yards and scored a touchdown on 18 carries. Ashenfelter was 6-for-9 passing for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Sentinels were led offensively by running back Garrett Clay, who rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries. Fort Hill actually came out on top in time of possession, 29:57 to 18:03. However, the Sentinels turned the ball over three times, twice on fumbles, and was penalized nine times for 80 yards, while Martinsburg did not turn the ball over.

Fort Hill had success on its first possession, picking up a pair of first downs, but the drive ended at midfield when a fake punt on fourth-and-16 came up one yard short.

Martinsburg took over for its first possession and, relying mainly on Gladden, used 10 plays to cover the needed distance with Gladden getting in on a fourth-and-goal from the one with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Tyler Dehaven’s kick made it 7-0, Bulldogs.

Fort Hill took over on its 20 for its second possession, but it was short-lived as the Bulldogs recovered a first-down fumble and used just one play to score as Ashenfelter hit a wide-open Blaine Richardson for the touchdown with 2:48 left in the quarter, with Dehaven’s kick making it 14-0.

After Fort Hill’s next possession stalled, the Bulldogs took over at its 27 and, again, using the running of Gladden and a 17-yard hook-up from Ashenfelter to Brown moved the ball to the Fort Hill 26, where, on fourth-and-four, Ashenfelter again found Brown on a deflected pass for the touchdown.

Trailing 21-0, the Sentinels took over at their 41 and needed 13 plays to get into the end zone. Fort Hill methodically moved inside the Martinsburg 10, picking up four first downs, before being hit with an illegal procedure penalty on second-and-goal from the 1. Two plays later the Sentinels again found themselves on the 1 for a fourth-and-goal, but then they were called for delay of game, putting the ball on the 6 for fourth-and-goal, from where Howser hit Dylan Clay in the end zone for the Fort Hill touchdown. Phil Giugliano’s kick made it 21-7.

Though winding down, the half was far from over as the Sentinel defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back for the offense around midfield with 40 seconds remaining. Howser and Watkins connected for a first down to the Bulldog 37, but two plays later Gladden intercepted a Howser pass at the 20 and returned it to the 47 with 10 seconds left in the half.

Ashenfelter then went downfield to Richardson for a 38-yard gain to put the ball on the Fort Hill 15, from where Dehaven missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.

The Sentinels came out great guns to open the second half, forcing another three-and-out defensively and then using 10 plays to move from the their 31 to the Martinsburg 9. But another illegal procedure penalty pushed them back to the 14, and the Martinsburg defense held to a point, setting up Giugliano’s 33-yard field goal with just under 2:20 left in the third.

Fort Hill then successfully executed an onside kick, taking possession at the Martinsburg 46 with 2:14 left in the third. But on fourth and less than one, Dolly was hit for a loss and Martinsburg took over at its 44.

Gladden immediately ripped off runs of 17 and 36 yards to put the ball first-and-goal on the Fort Hill 3, and on third-and-inches, he went in for the touchdown at 10:25 in the fourth with Dehaven’s kick making it 28-10.

The Bulldogs took over at their 42 and, with the help of some timely penalties, took the ball to the Fort Hill 21, with Ashenfelter going in from there on a second-and-11 with 5:25 left in the game.

The Sentinels then lost a fumble at their 43, setting up a 20-yard TD run by Gladden.

Fort Hill hosts Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences Friday at Greenway.