Fort Hill cuts down Silver Oak

Sep 2, 2011
by Steve Luse

CUMBERLAND — The Fort Hill offense got to show off its vast array of weapons and the offense was able to slow down the Silver Oak Academy speed in opening the season with a 43-0 rout as the Sentinels ran over the Rams on a humid Friday night at Greenway Avenue Stadium.

Alternating fullback Ryan Briner rushed for 159 yards on only nine carries and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Fort Hill running attack that piled up 379 of the team’s 391 total yards on the ground with 39 runs.

Starting fullback Garrett Clay put Fort Hill on the board on the Sentinels’ first play from scrimmage as the raced 65 yards to paydirt. The 2010 Cumberland Times-News Area Offensive Player of the Year also scored on an seven-yard run and finished with 98 yards on eight attempts.

Dylan Clay scored on an eight-yard run that gave the Sentinels a 16-0 lead wuth 7:34 still left in the opening quarter after Dylan Darr was credited with as safety.

Briner, who scored his first touchdown on a 65-yard burst up the middle, sent the game into the running clock on the 35-point mercy run with his 36-yard with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Cody Arigo concluded the scoring with a one-yard run with 4:04 remaining on the clock.

Senior Cullin Brown, who also plays soccer, converted his first six extra points and showd he can also be a defensive weapon as four of his kickoffs reached the end zone.

The Fort Hill defense limited Silver Oak to only 76 yards in total offense and just 39 yards on the ground with two sacks and five other tackles for loss.

Sophomore linebacker Cody Dolly had a sack and four tackles in his debut and Arigo had the other sack. Also turning strong defensive efforts were Darr, Nick Greise and D.J. Jolley.

“We started out really great with Garrett Clay’s run, but I think the kids kind of went into a lull,” said Fort Hill coach Todd Appel. “We didn’t execute very well at times and struggled with our blocking. We were trying to mix things up and may not have been ready to do that.

“I’m pleased with the win. I know what to expect from the players we have back, but we have some things we have to get better at. Next week’s game will be a challenge.”

Fort Hill will be hosting Keyser in a key early season matchup on Friday at 7 p.m. at Greenway.