Nov. 9, 2013
by Mike Burke

CUMBERLAND — Fort Hill fullback Dekarai Darr, the leading rusher on the Sentinels’ 10-0 team, once again rushed for over 100 yards, ringing up 126 on 14 carries to give him 1,236 for the season. He also scored on another long touchdown run — this one 65 yards — to help the Sentinels defeat Allegany, 46-20, in Saturday’s Homecoming Game.

But ... it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Not even close. And nobody knew that better than Dekarai Darr, as the 5-foot-4, 170-pound workhorse fullback spent most of the first half giving himself holy heck, not because his seven-first half carries netted just 31 yards but because he lost three fumbles, the first of which led directly to an Allegany touchdown.

“I’m not happy with myself,” Darr said after the game, ”but I’m happy for our team.”

It’s easy to say everybody is entitled to a bad day, particularly given all the good days Darr has given to Fort Hill and particularly after the bad day did not interfere with a big victory over the arch-rival to ensure an undefeated season. And when the dust settled, it wasn’t a bad day at all because Darr rushed for 95 yards on seven carries in the second half and helped Fort Hill pull away with the win.

Darr was buying none of it.

“Two different halves,” he said. “I had to get the first half out of my head and I did. I don’t want to let this team down. Nothing else matters. I’m happy we won.”

Darr said he put the first half out of his head because his teammates told him to and, according to running back Ty Johnson, the Offensive Player of the Game, it wasn’t a matter for debate.

“It was important for Dekarai to keep his head in the game the way he did,” Johnson said. “He’s a big part of our team. He’s a big runner and a big-game runner for us, and he’s always ready to go.”

A proven big-game runner, who’s always ready to go. That outweighed all else with head coach Todd Appel, who continued to call Darr’s number.

“Once Ty scored on the (73-yard) sweep to put us back ahead (after Darr’s second fumble), I didn’t think about giving him a break,” Appel said. “We just sent him back out there. Then at halftime, it was a no-brainer. He’s played a big hand in getting us here. We’ve got a pretty good offensive line, obviously, and Dekarai is a tough kid. He handles himself so well and helps lead this team by his example in the weight room and on the field.

“We like him. We like him a lot. And we count on him.”

Fort Hill’s players, while pleased with a win over Allegany under any circumstance, seemed more pleased to have won against such a game team as the Campers entering the playoffs. Johnson, who also starred at defensive back with a 45-yard return for touchdown, said he appreciated the Campers’ approach given what was at stake.

“They had us guessing to start,” Johnson said. “The (fullback pass from Kirk Robinette to Darion Lopez that picked up 45 yards) got me, I give Allegany that. But then I was able to get the interception so that was good. I think we really executed. Our defense came to play. Allegany put up a good fight, which we knew they would. That’s why we work so hard in practice.

“I love our team. We have a great group of guys who work hard. They’re always ready to work.”

“Allegany changed some things and did a good job,” said Fort Hill linebacker Cody Dolly, who was the Defensive Player of the Game. “But once we adjusted, game on.”

The Campers finished the game with 226 yards of offense, with just 98 coming in the second half as the Sentinels constantly pressured quarterback Trenton Eirich and gradually wore down Allegany in the trenches.

“We were good offensively; our line was great,” Darr said. “But I think our defense was the best today. They are tough.”

Darr said the Sentinels will be ready when they open the 1A West Region tournament Friday at Greenway against fourth-seeded Manchester Valley.

“I feel really good about our chances,” said Darr. “It’s a new season and we want to finish undefeated in that one, too.”

“We’re definitely a strong team going into the playoffs.” Dolly said. “We have to keep our heads, then up and at ’em.”