Martinsburg
manhandles Fort Hill
Steve
Luse
Cumberland Times-News
October 25, 2003
Sowers
throws for three scores in Martinsburg's 41-2 victory
CUMBERLAND
- An
overflow crowd estimated at nearly 8,000 fans got to
see what has to rank as one of the best visiting teams
to step into Greenway Avenue Stadium as Martinsburg
overwhelmed Fort Hill in a battle of unbeatens on Friday
night.
The
Bulldogs' all-state quarterback Nate Sowers completed
his first 10 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns
on a perfect fall night for football as Martinsburg
scored on its first four possessions in rolling to its
ninth win of the season. The victory puts the Bulldogs
in control of claiming their third straight Cumberland
Valley Athletic League championship with a 3-0 mark
with one regular season game remaining at Musselman.
It
was the first loss in eight games for Fort Hill and
the Sentinels close their CVAL slate with a 3-1 mark.
Sowers,
6-foot 1, 195-pound junior, finished the night with
20 completions in 23 attempts for 228 yards and three
touchdowns to give him 33 on the season. He also led
the Bulldogs in rushing with 69 yards on 11 carries
and set up a touchdown with a 19-yard run.
Last
season's West Virginia Player of the Year Brandon Barrett
caught 11 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns and
also ran 15 yards for a touchdown. Mark Redmond hauled
in four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.
The
Martinsburg defense, led by Donyea Bennett and Carl
Redman, held Fort Hill to only 119 yards in total offense
and four first downs.
"You
can never envision players doing some of the things
we did and I'm very proud of the way our players stepped
up to the challenge," said Martinsburg coach. "
Fort Hill has a great team with a great tradition and
this is a tough place to play. Some people questioned
whether we could stop the run and our defense really
played well."
Fort
Hill coach Barry Lattimer knew his team was going to
have to control the ball on the ground to have any chance
at all and the Sentinels were never able to get anything
going.
"They're
a great team and just have so many weapons," said
Lattimer. "They were making great moves and when
they caught the ball we couldn't tackle them. They were
so much bigger than us and just overwhelmed us up front."
The
Bulldogs, who entered the game averaging 53 points,
gave an indication of what was in store for the Sentinels
after taking the opening kickoff. Sowers completed his
first five passes for 40 yards and then went 19 yards
on a draw play to the one. Carl Redman blasted into
the end zone to complete the 8-play, 54-yard drive with
8:08 left in the first quarter Jeremiah Johnson kicked
the extra point.
Barrett,
who now has 65 career touchdown catches, started the
next drive with a 21-yard run and completed it on a
28 yard pass from Sowers with 2:25 left in the opening
quarter.
Martinsburg
made it 20-0 at the 10:18 mark in the second quarter
as Sowers found Richmond with the 18 yard scoring strike.
He also hit Barrett for 36 yards in the drive. Johnson
kicked the extra point.
"Our
receivers get open and that has been our strength all
year," said Sowers. "All I have to do is get
the ball to them and good things happen. We just took
what they gave us."
Redman
blocked a Fort Hill punt and Adrian Hawkins pounced
on the ball at the Sentinels' 15. On the next play,
Barrett took the ball on the reverse and used his great
speed to go untouched for the touchdown with 7:56 still
remaining in the first half. Sowers passed to Haskins
for the two points and the 28-0 lead.
The
Sentinels then threatened to get on the board when Branden
Giffin found tight end Denny Hockman open down field
for a 51 yard gain to the Martinsburg four yard line.
The Bulldogs then stuffed four runs to take over at
the one.
Fort
Hill scored its only points when a low snap to Sowers
got past him and out of the end zone for the safety
with 3:48 left in the half.
Martinsburg
took a 34-6 halftime lead when Sowers connected with
Barrett again on a three yard touchdown pass with 25
seconds left. Sowers completed 6-of-7 passes for all
64 yards in the drive.
The
Bulldogs never had to punt but a 35 yard field goal
attempt by Johnson sailed wide on their first possession
of the second half. A six yard run by Brannon Hamilton
and Johnson's kick concluded the scoring with 1:45 left
in the third quarter and kept the clock running the
rest of the game under the 35-point rule.
Fort
Hill will be playing at Southern on Friday night.
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