CUMBERLAND — Braelyn Younger’s 22 carries for 225 yards and three touchdowns sparked Fort Hill’s 48-6 rout of North Hagerstown on Friday at Greenway Avenue Stadium.
“I thought it was a great game,” Fort Hill head coach Zack Alkire said. “Really happy with our performance both offensively and defensively, we did a lot of good things.”
The game marked the first between the Sentinels (4-3) and Hubs (5-2) since 2014 after playing every year from 1957 to 1996.
Younger was the focal point on the opening drive for the Sentinels.
He rushed four times for 45 of Fort Hill’s 49 yards from scrimmage — including a 19-yard touchdown — to open the scoring.
“We just got beat,” North Hagerstown head coach Nathan Butts said. “We didn’t play our best game, we beat ourselves a lot. Fort Hill’s too good to make mistakes and give them extra opportunities.”
The Hubs were called for a face mask penalty on Younger’s second carry to give Fort Hill a first down.
Penalties were an issue for North Hagerstown, who committed 11 for 96 yards that led to three first downs for the Sentinels.
“That’s what I’m most disappointed about,” Butts said. “We preach discipline, keeping our composure and not letting other factors get us off our game. That probably is what’s bothering me the most right now.”
A three-and-out on North Hagerstown’s following drive led to another Younger score two plays later from 53-yards out.
The Sentinels faked the extra point and Carson Bender threw to Parker Beck for the two-point conversion.
The Hubs first two drives lasted three plays each and combined for one yard.
After one quarter, Fort Hill held a 134-11 advantage in yardage.
“I think it all goes back to the previous week of preparation,” Alkire said of the defense. “We’re preparing a lot better, we’re more focused in our practice, we’re a lot more intense in our practice. I feel they know their assignments a lot better now.”
Younger secured a hat trick on the following possession with a 49-yard touchdown run with 9:54 left in the first half.
Younger lost control of the ball around the 30, but it bounced directly to him in stride on his way to the end zone.
Bobby Brauer drilled a 30-yard field goal to end the half and extend the Sentinels lead to 25-0.
Fort Hill led 240-31 in yardage in the first half led by Younger’s 186 rushing yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns.
“He’s really feeling it, he’s running the ball hard,” Alkire said. “He’s seeing the field really well, couldn’t be happier with him.”
Ty’Qwell Fauntleroy entered Friday leading Washington County with 734 yards and 10 touchdowns, recording at least 100 yards in the first six games.
He was held to only 48 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown.
“We’re really familiar with the Wing-T, we thought that was gonna be an advantage to us,” Alkire said. “Kids prepared all week long, watched a lot of film and did a good job.”
On the Sentinels’ opening drive of the second half, North Hagerstown recovered a fumble.
On fourth down at the 45, a screen pass from Colt Butts to James Jackson went 35 yards to the Fort Hill 10.
It set up a 12-yard touchdown run by Fauntleroy, but Neek Taylor blocked the extra point to keep the score 25-6.
The Sentinels answered with a nine-play, 60-yard drive, ending on a six-yard touchdown throw from Noah House to Landen Richardson.
Bender opened the fourth quarter with a 23-yard run to the Hubs’ 21, setting himself up for a three-yard score.
Bender rushed eight times for 64 yards and a touchdown.
The ensuing drive was stalled, and a fumbled snap on the punt resulted in a safety.
Channing Logsdon returned the free kick following the safety for a 57-yard touchdown.
The Sentinels finished with 352 yards on 42 plays with 322 coming on the ground.
The Hubs were held to 87 yards on 39 plays and failed to convert on all nine of its third down attempts.
“We didn’t pass protect the greatest, we had some shots downfield,” coach Butts said. “I thought if we connected on two or three of them, it could’ve been a different looking first half. But we didn’t, so we gotta clean that stuff up and take our opportunities when they’re there.”
North Hagerstown also runs the Wing-T, and according to coach Butts, it’s not common in Washington County.
“You got us and Boonsboro, Boonsboro runs it a little different version of it, but it’s not what it used to be,” he said. “When I started coaching, it was that or the I (formation) every week. But now, a lot of teams are spread, which is a good thing because teams don’t see it as much now. It’s a hard offense to prepare for.”
Fort Hill hosts Smithsburg (4-3) on Friday at 6:30 p.m.