Sentinels scorch Lions, 33-7
Johnson, Barnes lead Fort Hill to 15th-straight win

MIKE BURKE, TIMES-NEWS STAFF WRITER

CUMBERLAND - Fort hill withstood the methodical time-consuming drive it was expecting from Chestnut Ridge on the opening series of the game, then peeled their ears back defensively for the rest of the night and put the ball into the hands of their speedsters to open the season with a 33-7 victory over the Lions Friday night at Greenway Avenue Stadium in front of an estimated crowd of 4,000.

The Sentinels, who are the defending Maryland 1A state champions, lost the time of possession on the evening, 28:23 to 19:37, but behind last year's Area Player of the Year, halfback Ty Johnson, and fullback Alex Barnes, a whole lot of time with the ball in their hands was not something they would need as they increased their two-year winning streak to 15 games.

Johnson led the Sentinels on the ground with 147 yards on 13 carries, scoring touchdowns on runs of six and 41 yards, while Barnes gained 82 yards on eight carries and scored a touchdown, with all of his touches coming in the first half.

The Sentinels rushed for 313 yards on 41 carries and also received touchdowns from fullback Raen Smith, a seven-yard run, and split end Kris Jackson on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Rashaan Shives. Fort Hill outgained the Lions in total offense, 330 to 194.

Quarterback Tyler Wiley led the Chestnut Ridge offense with 74 yards on 16 carries and went 7-for-11 passing for 73 yards. Fullback Matt Wiley rushed for 53 yards on 15 carries and scored the Lions' only touchdown with just under 5:00 left in the game. There were just two turnovers in the game - a lost fumble by each team.

The game turned in Fort Hill's favor and the Sentinels captured enough momentum to carry them through the night with the defensive stop on the very first series. Chestnut Ridge took over at its 20 and began to pound away at the inexperienced Sentinel defense, relying mainly on the running of the Wileys.

The Lions (1-1) methodically moved over midfield and into Fort Hill territory on five plays and would get as deep as the 31. But a third down stop of Matt Wiley by Fort Hill linebackers Shives and freshman Brayden Poling, and a fourth-down sack of Tyler Wiley by Jackson turned the ball over on downs to Fort Hill at its 40. The Chestnut Ridge drive consumed 6:29 of clock.

The Sentinels went right to work as Johnson ran inside for 17. A first-down later, his touchdown run of 71 yards was nullified by a penalty. But he gained 15 on the next play, breaking tackles over the left side to put the ball on the Lions' 14. From there Barnes cut back and broke tackles to score the first touchdown at 2:35.

Both Fort Hill Coach Todd Appel and Chestnut Ridge Coach Max Shoemaker pointed to the Fort Hill defensive stop on the opening drive.

"That first drive was worrisome because we came into this first game uncertain of our defense," said Appel. "To have lost as many kids as we did (from last year), I was worried. But the kids didn't break. They played physically and I think our kids wore on them. Chestnut Ridge, I thought, wore on Everett, but tonight our kids wore on them."

"It was a big key in getting the ball back to our game-changing speed - which we have a lot of - early."

"We wanted to score on that opening drive is what we wanted to do," said Shoemaker, "but Fort Hill adjusted. They have an outstanding program, they're fundamentally sound and well coached. They adjusted and they shut us down. We punched them and they counter-punched and we never recovered."

"It would have been good to get a score there. It would have given us confidence. Buth they have too many athletes, beginning with Johnson and Barnes, and they have the horses up front beginning with (6-foot-2, 277-pound tackle Timmy) Friend. And they were even missing a few linemen."

"I look for them to have another very successful season, and it's a credit to their program and to Coach Appel for putting it together."

The Sentinels got the ball right back on a three-and-out and scored in four plays, covering 42 yards on the drive, with Johnson scorig on a sweep from six yards out with 7.3 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Lions managed a first down on their next possession, but Fort Hill took over at its 17 and moved 83 yards on six plays to score, eating 2:19 of clock. On third-and-six from the Ridge 41, Johnson went left, cut up, juked two defenders then burst into the end zone at 5:42 of the half with Austin Farrell's third PAT making it 21-0 at halftime.

Chestnut Ridge had an opportunity early in the third when Fort Hill lost a fumble at its 24 on its first possession. But Tyler Wiley was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-two at the 16 to return the ball to the Sentinels.

The Lions lost a fumble on their next possession with Fort Hill linebacker Luke Stegmaier recovering at the Ridge seven. Sophomore guard/fullback Smith then took it over for the score at 1:53 of the third.

After forcing a punt, Fort Hill needed just four plays for its final scoring drive, 55 yards, with Johnson gaining 15 on first down and Shives finding Jackson with a step on a Lions defender going into the end zone. The play covered 26 yards at 9:51 of the fourth.

Chestnut Ridge then worked a 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive that ate 5:12 of time, with Matt Wiley going over right tackle from seven yards out at 4:39 of the fourth.

The Sentinels will play at Keyser and Chestnut Ridge returns to Greenway to play Allegany on Friday.