FH too quick for Southern

FROM STAFF REPORTS

OAKLAND -- Raen Smith and Ty Johnson each scored two touchdowns and amassed more than 100 all-purpose yards, leading Fort Hill to a 42-8 victory over the Southern Rams.

After the Rams went three-and-out on the first possession of the game. Ty Johnson picked up the punt from the Fort Hill 43-yard line and ran it 57 yards for the score. The point-after by Austin Farrell gave the Sentinels a 7-0 lead.

After another three-and-out by Southern, Fort Hill took over on the Southern 32-yard line. It took the Sentinels just two plays to double their lead at the 8:33 mark after Alex Barnes ran 32 yards for the score. Neither team was able to get their offense going for the remainder of the first quarter.

On Fort Hill's third play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Brayden Poling ran in to the end zone from five yards out, and the Farrell point-after gave Fort Hill a commanding 21-0 lead.

Fort Hill had a chance to stop Southern on its ensuing drive, but an offside call on the Sentinels gave Southern an automatic first down. The Rams capitalized, cutting the Sentinels' lead when Travis Newton scored on a quarterback run from the one. Logan Cvetnick converted on the two-point conversion, and the Rams faced a 21-8 deficit.

Fort Hill fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and it was recovered by the Rams, but they were unable to capitalize.

Smith's one-yard run with 1:26 remaining in the half capped a 57-yard drive. Ethan York caught a pass from Lennon Squires on the two-point conversion to give Fort Hill a 29-8 lead going into halftime.

Barnes ran the opening kickoff of the second half for 40 yards to the 42-yard line. On the Sentinels' first play from scrimmage, Rashaan Shives hit Ty Johnson on a 58-yard catch-and-run for the touchdown, and Farrell's kick extended Fort Hill's lead to 36-8.

Southern's Brian Kelly returned the ensuing kickoff to the Fort Hill 40, but the Rams were unable to put any points on the board on that drive. Kelly finished with six kick returns for 128 yards.

Fort Hill closed the scoring at the 5:14 mark of the third quarter on a 58-yard run by Smith that capped off a five play, 80-yard drive.

For the remainder of the third quarter and entirety of the fourth, the rainy conditions took a toll on both offenses as the teams combined for 10 fumbles. Fort Hill lost three of their six, and Southern lost just one of their four.

Fort Hill finished with 367 yards rushing with Smith leading the charge with 105 yards on 10 carries for two touchdowns. Barnes finished with 71 yards on five carries and a touchdown, and Tristan Tressler had seven carries for 51 yards.

Kelly was the leading rusher for the Rams, finishing with 61 yards on 10 carries. Cvetnick had 15 carries for 36 yards, and Brad Davis finished with seven carries for 23 yards. Davis and Cvetnick led Southern's defense with seven and six tackles, respectively.

The Sentinels (5-0) host Walter Johnson on Saturday at 4 p.m. Southern (0-5) travels to Greenway Avenue Stadium to take on Allegany on Friday.