Fort Hill blanks Ligonier Valley

Oct 1, 2011
by Shawn Curtis
The Tribune-Democrat

Following his team’s 29-0 win over Ligonier Valley at Weller Field on Friday night, Fort Hill coach Todd Appel recalled his playing days when grass fields were the norm.

Playing on grass for the first time this season, the Sentinels (5-0) struggled at times to hold onto the football but eventually found a way to run away from the host Rams (4-1, 4-0 Heritage Conference).

“When we played football, we played on turf once a year, maybe and we thought: ‘Wow, turf’,” Appel said. “Now it’s reversed.

“The kids are spoiled. They’re always on turf and they get to grass fields and it’s ‘Oh my gosh! We have to play on this?’ Experience on grass is good experience.

“Hopefully if we get to the playoffs, we might have to play on it again and the kids understand how to play on it.”

The Sentinels rushed for

285 yards while limiting the Rams to 55 yards on the ground. Entering Friday’s game, Ligonier Valley was averaging 340 yards per game through its first four contests.

Defensively, the Rams had allowed just six points through the first four weeks of the season.

“We preached all week to our kids about coming off the football and attacking,” Rams coach Roger Beitel said. “I don’t think we did a very good job of preparing our kids to attack the way we wanted to.”

Fort Hill was spurred by a combined 209 yards from Garrett (106 yards) and Dylan Clay (103).