Fort
Hill comeback sinks Keyser, 20-19
Cumberland Times-News
September 16, 2006
Mallow's
kick following Yurko's TD caps Sentinels furious rally
KEYSER
- Drew
Yurko scored on a five yard run with 1:26 left in the
game and Levi Mallow kicked what proved to be the winning
point as the Fort Hill Sentinels battled back from a
19-0 deficit to defeat Keyser 20-19 Friday night at
Keyser's Stayman Field.
Fort
Hill, which beat Frankfort 42-7 last week, is 2-0. Keyser
falls to 2-1.
After
struggling with their blocking, tackling and pass defense
in the first half, the Sentinels started moving the
ball on the ground and was able to take advantage of
Keyser mistakes.
The
biggest break for Fort Hill came with four minutes left
and Keyser clinging to a 19-13 lead. A high snap sailed
over the head of the Golden Tornado and gave the Sentinels
the ball at the Keyser 22-yard line.
Junior
tailback Corey Taylor, who played a key role in the
second half comeback, went nine yards on two carries
before junior fullback Scott Rice blasted six yards
for a first down at the six. Rice was then stopped for
only one yard on two carries to set up the third-and-goal
at the five.
With
the middle plugged up, Fort Hill coach Barry Lattimer
decided to go with something outside. Yurko took a pitch
from quarterback Rich Shook to the left side and was
able to go in for the touchdown. Mallow's second successful
kick was right down the middle.
The
Keyser defense shut down Fort Hill in the first half
and senior transfer quarterback Waishard White was able
to come up with some big pass plays that led to a 13-0
halftime lead.
In
the Golden Tornado's first touchdown drive, White connected
with his 6-foot-4 All-Area receiver Tyrell Clay with
a 27-yard pass and then found tight end Bryce Lyons
on a 35-yard scoring strike with 5:36 left in the half.
Scott Smith kicked the extra point.
White,
who completed 10-of-19 passes for 189 yards, hit Clay
in the end zone for another 35-yard scoring strike with
1:36 remaining before the break. The kick failed.
On
Keyser's first offensive play of the second half after
the Golden Tornado recovered a Fort Hill fumble, fullback
Brandon Roy went 50 yards for the touchdown with 9:43
left in the third quarter. A run for two points failed.
Fort
Hill then made a switch from the wing T to the I-formation
and the move appeared to catch the Keyser defense off
guard.
On
their second possession of the second half the Sentinels
went 62 yards on nine plays with Rice scoring the first
touchdown on a four-yard run with 6:05 left in the quarter.
Rice also had a big 25-yard run in the drive. Mallow
kicked the extra point.
A
pass interference call against Keyser nullified an interception
and was a key to Fort Hill getting its second touchdown.
One play after the penalty, Shook completed his only
pass of the night, finding Zack Blank open down at the
10-yard line for the 39-yard scoring strike with 7:33
left. A high snap led to an incomplete pass on the conversion
attempt.
Fort
Hill rushed the ball 43 times for 149 yards and Rice
finished the night with 96 yards on 20 carries. Taylor
had 48 yards on 10 attempts.
Clay
had four catches for 124 yards and Roy rushed 12 times
for 75 yards for Keyser.
Fort
Hill will host Musselman and Keyser will be at Boonsboro
Friday night.
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