CUMBERLAND — Momentum is everything in high school football, and Fort Hill had all of it from the jump Friday.
Fort Hill scored touchdowns on its first two plays from scrimmage, and it needed just six more to lead a reeling Allegany 28-0 just one quarter in.
Brothers Jabril and Gamil Daniels combined for four touchdowns and an interception, Braelyn Younger caught and ran for a score and sixth-seeded Fort Hill shellacked third-seeded Allegany, 48-0, on Friday night.
In a playoff upset in seeding only, Fort Hill advanced to the Class 1A West Region co-finals at second-seeded Clear Spring (6-3) next week.
“I’m really happy with the way we came out, with a lot of fire and kept the intensity going throughout the course of the game,” Fort Hill head coach Zack Alkire said.
“They’ve come a really long way since the start of the season. They sense that, whether we continue to win or not, that the end is coming soon. They want to prolong that as much as possible. There’s a real sense of urgency.”
Friday marked the beginning of Fort Hill’s road journey through the playoffs. The Sentinels (3-7) were the lower seed after forfeiting five wins for using an ineligible player.
Fort Hill has now won 33 consecutive playoff games at Greenway Avenue Stadium, a streak that dates back to 2012. The Sentinels have 21 straight wins over the Campers.
Allegany, which finished with 68 yards of total offense and three first downs, ends with a 4-6 record.
“Started slow,” Allegany head coach Bryan Hansel said. “They didn’t change much offensively. We just didn’t play the same, technique and fundamental-wise.
“It’s hard when you start Homecoming, you’re in the game so your defense plays. Then they hit you with those two traps, make it 14-0. It’s hard to keep playing.”
Fort Hill blitzed Allegany at the onset to leap out to a 28-0 edge after the first quarter and 42-0 at the half.
The Sentinels took their foot off the gas late in the half, running out the clock instead of scoring. They then played substitutes in the second half and allowed the running clock to end the contest after just five combined drives.
Fort Hill ran for 285 yards on 33 carries, and its first unit averaged 12.4 yards per carry in the first half — one week after being held to only 75 yards rushing in the opening half in Homecoming.
Alkire said the Fort Hill coaching staff didn’t make any significant adjustments from film study and credited his team’s intensity.
Jabril Daniels scored on a pair of fullback traps on his first two carries on runs of 59 and 14 yards — the latter set up by an interception by his brother Gamil.
Jabril Daniels added a 40-yard touchdown jaunt later in the opening period and finished with six carries for 126 yards.
“My offensive line, doing what we expected them to do all year, they stepped up today,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them today.”
Daniels upped his career touchdown total to 68, three shy of the school and area record set by Josh Page.
Page’s mark was a state record but is now 14th all-time.
Younger accounted for the other score of the first quarter, a leaping 45-yard catch and run on a throw by Noah House on a 3rd-and-22 play.
Younger, who finished with 46 yards on six carries, scored the lone touchdown of the second half — an 18-yard scamper that he punctuated by running over an Allegany defensive back on the goal line.
Carson Bender ran 22 yards for a touchdown to open the second-quarter scoring, part of his four carries for 56 yards.
A week after he had a long punt return touchdown called back for a holding penalty, Gamil Daniels closed Fort Hill’s opening-half onslaught with a punt return for six points.
Daniels ran to his left and hit a blue wall of Allegany jerseys, reversed field and received a pair of strong blocks along the visitor’s sideline to cruise 64 yards for the score.
It was an emotional day for the Daniels brothers and the rest of the Fort Hill and Allegany seniors. Friday marked their final game at Greenway Avenue Stadium.
“I just had some tears coming down my face,” Gamil Daniels said of playing his final home game. “They took me in like they’re my family. It’s nothing but love for these (fans).”
Fort Hill had the edge in total offense (330-68), first downs (12-3), time of possession (29:10-18:50), turnovers (0-2) and penalty yards (60-65).
Frustration eventually bubbled over on the Allegany side.
Trailing 42-0, the Campers began their seventh drive with a chop block and an unsportsmanlike penalty, and Hansel called a timeout to make it a teachable moment.
“That extracurricular stuff doesn’t make you look tough,” Hansel said. “I told them, I won’t play like that. I won’t be a part of a program, whether we’re up big or down big, where we’re going to do those things.
“It looked bad. It was bad. I apologized to Zack (Alkire) for it. It’s wrong, and we won’t ever do that.”
Quarterback Sebastian Stewart led Allegany with 16 rushing yards and completed a 30-yard pass to Khiante Bible, though the latter was halved by an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Allegany fumbled four times and lost one, recovered by Fort Hill’s Jacob VanMeter.
Fort Hill, on a quest for a record-tying fourth consecutive state championship, now turns to a road matchup at Clear Spring and will again be a heavy favorite.
The Sentinels are in search of their first road playoff game outside Allegany County since the 1998 state semifinals.
“I’m looking for a lot of the same,” Alkire said. “I’m hoping the intensity remains. We do seem to ratchet it up come playoff time. This group is looking to continue that tradition.”