Jenkins, Stubbs are Offensive Players of the Year
Fort Hill sophomore 'a threat every time he touches the ball'

Feb 22, 2020
Jeff Landes

CUMBERLAND — It didn’t take long for Fort Hill head coach Todd Appel and his staff to realize they had something special in sophomore running back Breven Stubbs.

“He showed his ability that he could be a varsity player during the summer in our 7 on 7 drills,” Appel said. “He just excelled. So we decided to put him on varsity and we’re glad we did. He was the home run hitter that we weren’t going to have.”

It didn’t take long for opponents to realize that Stubbs would be someone they would have to worry about, too.

In the season opener at Mountain Ridge, the 5-foot, 153-pound sophomore scored two touchdowns — both from long distances — in his first varsity game.

He broke free on a 67-yard scoring run in the second quarter less than two minutes after a Miner touchdown, restoring a 21-point lead and crushing what momentum Mountain Ridge might have gained. Then in the third quarter, he returned a punt 65 yards for another score.

“He’s super fast,” said Appel, “and it’s easy-looking fast. I’ve never seen anybody catch him when he doesn’t have to stop, doesn’t have to try and make a cut. I’ve seen people have angles on him and then he kicks it in an extra gear and runs a clear shot into the end zone.”

Stubbs, along with Player of the Year Carson Snyder, helped lead the Sentinels to an 11-2 season that ended in the Class A semifinal to eventual state champion Catoctin.

Stubbs led the Sentinels in all-purpose yards with 1,775 (1,825 including 50 return yards off of three interceptions) and he finished as the team’s second leading rusher behind Snyder with 1,034 yards on 86 attempts for a 12 yards per carry average. He scored 25 touchdowns — 16 rushing — one less than Snyder’s 26. He was the team’s leading receiver with 245 yards on only seven receptions with a long of 69.

As a result of his standout sophomore season, Stubbs was voted the Offensive Player of the Year by area head coaches along with Moorefield junior running back Matthew Jenkins.

Stubbs will receive the award on Sunday during the 72nd Dapper Dan Sports Awards Banquet at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club. Light appetizers will be available at 3 p.m. with the banquet beginning at 4.

“Everytime he touched the ball, he was a threat to go the distance. He scored in every facet of the game except kickoff returns,” Appel said, noting that opposing teams were kicking away from him.

Along with his rushing touchdowns, Stubbs had five receiving, four by returns — three punts and an interception — and he also passed for one.

“Quiet. Unassuming. Very Humble. Doesn’t say much. Pretty smart,” Appel said. “A great kid to be around.

“As a sophomore, he fit right in. He has had a lot of success but it’s the way he carries himself. There is no animosity toward others. He is as happy for their success as they are for him. He handles himself really well.”

According to Appel, he’s also a student of the game.

“I can’t under estimate his intelligence,” he said. “I would go to explain something to him and he would answer before it came out of my mouth.

“He’s only going to get better.”

Out of 19 votes, Stubbs and Jenkins both received four, Allegany’s Trevan Powell, Frankfort’s Nick Marley and Snyder had three each, and Fort Hill’s Danny King and Petersburg’s Dawson Tingler each received a vote.