posted Saturday, September 6, 2015
FROM STAFF REPORTS

CLEARFIELD, Pa. - After a storm delayed the start of the game for 30 minutes, Fort Hill really made it Raen, turning to its punishing junior fullback Raen Smith to pound the Clearfield Bison on the inside, then going to some lightning in junior halfback Brayden Brown on the outside as the Sentinels rolled to a season-opening 49-14 victory Friday night at Clearfield.

The victory extended the two-time defending Maryland 1A state champion's area-record winning streak to 29 games, as the Sentinels piled up 468 yards of total offense, all on the ground, on 46 carries, averaging just over 10 yards per carry.

The Fort Hill offensive line dominated the game, opening huge holes for all nine backs who carried the ball, led statistically by Brown with 159 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries. However, it was Smith who controlled the tempo of the game, punishing the Bison defensive front for time and yardage, steamrolling his way to 115 yards on 18 carries, all but one carry and six yards coming in the first half as the Sentinels took a 28-7 lead.

The Sentinels took the fight right to the Bison, taking the opening drive 65 yards on nine plays, with Smith carrying five times for 36 yards through gaping holes created by the offensive line to take the ball to the Clearfield 21.

On first down, Brown took the pitch to his left, then cut back into the line of scrimmage to burst through the secondary for the 21-yard touchdown run at 7:51 of the first, with Austin Farrell's kick making it 7-0.

The Sentinels retook possession at their 23 and went right back to Smith, who helped take the ball to the 24 from where Brown hit the right side, showed a burst of speed to get to the outside, then cut back inside to get past the safety for the 76-yard touchdown run with 4:20 left in the first quarter. Farrell's kick made it 14-0.

Clearfield then handed itself poor field position on the kickoff when the return man slipped at the Bison 4. However, the Bison proceeded to march 96 yards on 12 plays with quarterback Cody Spaid completing passes for five first downs before, under center on third-and-goal from the two, he took the ball into the end zone for the touchdown at 11:55 of the second, with Jake Sorbera's kick bringing the Bison to within 14-7.

For the game, Spaid, who 90 percent of the time worked from an empty backfield, completed 20 of 35 passing attempts for 275 yards and a touchdown.

Fort Hill, however, after taking over at its 47, promptly gave the ball to Smith on five straight plays, and the junior fullback took it to the Clearfield 25. From there Poling hit the corner for 23 more yards, before Smith took it across from two yards out for the Sentinels' third touchdown at 9:13 of the second, with Farrell's kick making it 21-7.

The Fort Hill defense gave up a first down on the Bison's next possession but then forced a 20-yard punt from the pistol formation on fourth down to take possession at its 42 with 7:04 left in the half.

The Sentinels again went to Poling, who picked up five, but then gave the ball to Smith on four straight plays to take it to the Clearfield 47. After a roughing the passer penalty on Clearfield, Smith found a big hole over left tackle for 19 yards to put the ball on the 13. After Smith gained one on first, quarterback Lennon Squires ran a perfectly-executed bootleg behind two blockers to take the ball into the end zone from 12 yards out with 2:55 left in the half, with Farrell's fourth successful kick making it 28-7 at the half.

Clearfield got a pair of first downs to start the second half but punted to Fort Hill, where the Sentinels took over at their 43. One play and 57 yards later, Brown wa in the end zone again for Fort Hill, hitting the left side to find open field where he turned up field and sped into the end zone untouched at 8:30 of the third quarter, with Farrell's kick making it 35-7.

The Sentinels then regained possession at their 20, and after a six-yard gain by Smith, Squires executed the quarterback sneak and burst through the middle of the Bison defense for 70 yards before being brought down at the Clearfield four. On the next play, Poling went across from four yards at 1:57 of the third, and Farrell made it 42-7.

The Fort Hill reserves then got into the act, putting together a 12-play, 52-yard drive, with Troy Banks going in for the touchdown from a yard out with 4:43 left in the fourth.

The Bison came back on its next possession to get back on the board when Spaid hit receiver Ryan Lezzer on a post pattern to cover 56 yards for the touchdown at 3:43 of the fourth.

Fort Hill (1-0) will host Keyser (2-0) Friday night at Greenway Avenue Stadium.