Oct. 13, 2012
from Staff Reports

OAKLAND — Fort Hill exploded for 29 second-half points to break open what was a tight game at the half to beat the Southern Rams, 42-6, for the Sentinels’ third straight win.”

Sophomore Ty Mance scored three touchdowns — the first on a 73-yard kickoff return, the second on a 31-yard return of a fumble recovery, and the third on a 56-yard run — and led the Sentinels in rushing with 77 yards on just three carries.

Travis Bush scored again on another touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Squires, while Zac Elbin and sophomore Dekarai Darr also scored TDs.

“It’s a good win,” said Fort Hill head coach Todd Appel. “I’m so impressed. We’re plugging away. These are tough kids and I like them. We have some sophomores who are not intimidated; they act like they belong here. I’m just so happy and proud to be involved with them. We’ve got a ways to go. We’re still young, but we’ll get better.”

The Sentinels (5-2) went up in the first quarter when Bush scored on a seven-yard pass from Squires, with Chris King’s kick making it 7-0.

The Rams, however, got to within 7-6 on a Brian Wildman touchdown run. The point attempt failed, and then Mance returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to put the Sentinels up, 13-6 at the half.

In the third quarter, Elbin ran one in from 11 with Ryan Shives’ reception for two from Bush making it 21-6. Mance then recovered a Southern fumble on the next possession and returned it 31 yards to make it 27-6.

In the fourth, Darr broke one off for 24 yards and the touchdown, with King’s kick going through, before Mance tacked on another one on a 56-yard run from scrimmage, with the Shives-from-Bush connection working again to make it 42-6.

The Sentinels passed for 106 yards on 8-of-10 passing, with one interception, totaling 253 yards. Fort Hill’s defense limited Southern to 35 yards rushing and 46 passing.

“Five and two is something,” said Appel. “We wanted to be 7-0, but we’ll take 5-2, and we want to finish strong.”

Southern received fine performances on defense from Seth Kisner, Travis Newton and Tristan Nazelrod.

Fort Hill will visit Chestnut Ridge on Saturday while Southern (2-5) will host Mountain Ridge on Friday.