Sep. 29, 2012
from Staff Reports

CUMBERLAND — Fort Hill scored on all eight possessions Friday night in putting together its best game of the season to roll past Carrick of Pittsburgh, 54-8, Friday at Greenway Avenue Stadium.

Senior halfback Zac Elbin scored three touchdowns, rushing for 123 yards on 12 carries, all coming in the first half. Junior back Dekarai Darr returned from a broken ankle to rush for 117 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while quarterback Hunter Squires and split end Travis Bush hooked up for a pair of touchdowns.

“I’m pleased, not satisfied, with the progress we made tonight,” said Fort Hill coach Todd Appel. “It’s the best football game we’ve played all year. We played better defensively and on special teams than we have all year. I’m pleased. We’ve taken a step in the right direction.”

Fort Hill (3-2) took advantage of a Carrick fumble on the opening possession of the game, needing just four plays to score as fullback Rashaan Shives went in from nine yards out at 8:51, with Chris King’s kick making it 7-0.

Carrick (0-5) had success moving the ball on its next possession, taking it inside Fort Hill territory before the Sentinels’ Bush picked off an Ahmari Camp pass and returned it 19 yards to midfield.

The Sentinels moved to the Carrick four when Alex Barnes, who rushed for 68 yards on eight carries, picked up 20 on fourth-and-11, and with 2:06 to go, Elbin took it in for the second Fort Hill touchdown.

After the Raiders were stopped on downs when Fort Hill bottled them up twice after third-and-two, the Sentinels took over at their 47. Barnes tore off a run in which he broke several tackles to gain 33 on first down, taking it to the Carrick 20. After Elbin picked up 17 to the three, he took it over right tackle from one yard at 10:26 to cap the 53-yard scoring drive.

After another Fort Hill stop, Darr took it from his 41 to the Carrick 41 for a gain of 18. Elbin then gained 20 yards to the 21, before scoring his third touchdown at 7:21.

With Fort Hill taking over at the Carrick 45, Squires hit Bush on first down for 18 yards to the Carrick 27. From the 18, Barnes took it to the 11 before Squires found Bush at the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown at 1:29 to make it 35-0.

At the half, the Sentinels held a 248-86 advantage in total offense, before finishing the game on top at 405-140.

Darr opened the second half with a 29-yard gain to the Carrick 29, then tacked on a 20-yard run before taking it in for the Sentinels’ sixth straight score from the one at 8:44.

“Dekarai Darr is a spark to us,” said Appel. “He broke his ankle five weeks ago and he did everything he could do to come back because he loves football. And we’re glad to have him back.”

On Fort Hill’s next possession, Darr zig-zagged for close to 100 yards to cover 49 in putting the ball at the Carrick 14. Then, after a couple of plays netted 17 yards in losses, Squires hit Bush again, this time in the left corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass at 1:07.

“Hunter Squires showed, when given time, he throws a good ball,” Appel said.

The Sentinels then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, before, four plays later, Barnes took it in from eight yards out.

Fort Hill will host Central, of Martinsburg, Pa., on Friday.