FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 5
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6 FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019
I think we have to grow and mature and shake “ off the newness and get game-ready, particularly on defense, before the regular season. We have not one returning starter on defense. Last year our defense was so fast and talented, so we do have a measuring stick. They held us together last year. We didn’t score a lot of points, but then the offense came together and we became a real good football team. So the shoe’s on the other foot.
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Todd Appel,
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Fort Hill head coach
Fort Hill: Offense is ahead of the defense CONTINUED FROM 4 hopefully, they’ll be better as players.” Appel believes the key to success for the Sentinels will be the same as last year, but only different. One side of the ball has to catch up with the other side, but this year it’s the other way around. “I think we have to grow and mature and shake off the newness and get game-ready, particularly on defense, before the regular season,” he said. “We have not one returning starter on defense. Last year our defense was so fast and talented, so we do have a measuring stick. They held us together last year. We didn’t score a lot of points, but then the offense came together and we became a real good football team. “So the shoe’s on the other foot. Until the defense gets their shoes on their feet, it’s up to the offense to take us along until we get right on the other side of the ball.” At quarterback is Danny King (5-11,
164, Sr.), who is known far and wide for being one of the top placekickers in the country. His senior season, however, King, who has committed to West Virginia University as a preferred walk-on placekicker, is the Sentinels’ starting quarterback. “Danny is probably the most athletic kid in the senior class,” Appel said. “As a quarterback, he’s real fast, makes good decisions running and throwing. He’s a dangerous kid back there. His ability makes him dangerous to run and to pass. He can make people miss and gets the ball to people who are in pass routes.” Also at quarterback is Daniel Stuby (6-2, 201, Sr.). “Daniel runs the offense great as well,” Appel said. “He does a great job. He’s a very smart kid. Both Daniel and Danny are 4.0-plus GPA kids, so it’s good to have that kind of intelligence at
SEE FORT HILL — 7
FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 7
Fort Hill : Backfield is loaded with talent CONTINUED FROM 6 quarterback.” At fullback is Carson Snyder (5-9, 197, Sr.), who rushed for 245 yards on 37 carries (6.6 average) and three touchdowns last season. “Carson had game reps last year and at Southern, he really helped put a drive together to help us get one of those field goals. Carson is a hard runner and can run in the open space, but he can also run through SNYDER you. He’s had a good offseason and will be a good Fort Hill fullback.” Also at fullback is Sheldon Welsh (5-11, 163, Jr.), who Appel says, “has good field vision and is a good, hardnosed kid.” Appel says the Sentinels are equipped with four good halfbacks, led by Malakai Webb (5-9, 154, Jr.) and Colby Santmyire (5-4, 143, Sr.), who rushed for 168 yards and five touchdowns on 17 carries last year. “Both kids are going to do well,” said Appel. “Colby is not real big, but he’s hard nosed WEBB and tough. He runs hard, blocks well and is one of our fastest kids. He reminds me of those short running backs who play for the Patriots. He runs good pass routes. He competes and does his best. “Webb has some SANTMYIRE speed. He moves well, runs to open space well and is learning to be a better blocker.” Also at halfback are Paxton Wertz (5-10, 160, Jr.) and Breven Stubbs (5-0, 153, So.). “Paxton Wertz was a real good blocker as a jayvee,” Appel said. “He had
a good 7-on-7 season and is a good, solid performer. He does everything right. You can really count on him to do things right. “Breven Stubbs is so fast and is so, so, so open to coaching. He listens well and he’s the fastest kid in our football program. He’s a humble kid who wants to do well. He’s very fun to be around.” On the offensive line, “Austin Burt could play guard or tight end and have a great year for us,” Appel said. “Alex Case (5-10, 215, Jr.) is one of the strongest kids in our program. He was 98 pounds as a freshman and is now one of the strongest kids and he’ll get better as times goes. Hunter Jacobs (5-11, 205, Sr.), firstteam All-Area last year, is the center with Hayden Simpson (6-2, 210, Jr.) in the picture as well. “Hunter Jacobs played 13 games,” Appel said. “He’s an old-school football player and is tough. Hayden Simpson is backing up and had a great offseason and has proven to us he has earned the reps. I’m very impressed with him.” At right guard, Jakobe Jackson (5-4, 206, Sr.) was second-team All-Area a year ago. “Jakobe Jackson, I really think, if he were 6-2, 250, he’d have college offers,” Appel said. “He’s one of the strongest kids in the program. He had a great scrimmage last week and he gets after people. He’s a pleasure to be around but doesn’t pass the eye test at the college level. But we love having him at Fort Hill.” Jason VanMeter (5-10, 226, Jr.) and Cainan Grapes (5-11, 220, Jr.) provide depth at guard. “Jason VanMeter is a good offensive lineman,” said Appel. “He played in the state championship game on defense and did a remarkable job. He never disappointed us. He made a lot of tackles and tackles in the backfield. “Grapes at guard, he’s a good football player who is going to challenge for time and give us depth.” Gage May (6-3, 252, Sr.) is the right tackle and is joined by Chase Wilhelm (6-0, 297, Sr.) at the position. “Gage May is better from last year,”
SEE FORT HILL — 12
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8 FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019
Head coach Todd Appel Season: 12th In 11 seasons under head coach Todd Appel, Fort Hill has a 131-14 record for a .903 winning percentage, the highest winning percentage for a head football coach in Fort Hill football history, with William Hahn’s winning percentage of .873 ranking second. In this time, the Sentinels have produced nine West Region championships, nine seasons with at least 10 victories, six undefeated regular seasons, two state championship runners-up and five state championships, four of them being undefeated seasons, having won four in a row from 2013-16. Under Appel, the Sentinels established the Cumberland area all-time winning streak of 32 (2015-17), eclipsing their previous area record of 29 (2013-15). Appel has directed Fort Hill to six straight Maryland Class 1A state championship games, including last year when the Sentinels defeated Douglass, 20-8, to finish 13-0. Nine times — 2008, 2010-11, 2013-18 — Appel has been honored by the Dapper Dan Club of Allegany County as the Area High School Football Coach of the Year and was Maryland High School Football Foundation Coach of the Year in 2013. After spending 15 years as an assistant coach for Mike Calhoun and Barry
Lattimer, Appel was named the 10th head coach in Fort Hill’s history. He served in a variety of capacities under Calhoun and Lattimer, including offensive coordinator, offensive and defensive line coach, and was in charge of the offseason weight training program. A 1987 graduate of Fort Hill, Appel played for head coaches Dick Bittner and Calhoun. He was named first-team Times-News All-Area in 1985 and ‘86 as an offensive guard and a linebacker, respectively. He attended Fairmont State for one year, before graduating from Frostburg State University.
12 FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019
Fort Hill: No starters return on the defense CONTINUED FROM 7
Steve Bittner/Times-News
Fort Hill’s Jason VanMeter (57) pressures the Douglas-Prince George’s quarterback late in the Sentinels’ 20-8 state championship game victory last December in Annapolis. Head coach Todd Appel hopes VanMeter will be one of the anchors for the Sentinels’ defensive line this season.
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said Appel. “Toward the end of the year he was pressuring our first-team tackles and I think he’ll have a good year. He responds to coaching and will get better. He has all the tools. “Chase Wilhelm has a big body. When he gets more aggressive he’ll see a lot more time. If he gets a mean spell he’ll be G. MAY dangerous.” At left tackle is firstteam All-Area pick Liam Moran (5-11, 275, Sr.) with Stephen Lawrence (5-11, 257, Jr.) backing up. “Liam is a returning starter,” Appel said. “He’s had a good weight room and we WILHELM like his experience up front. He’s a good example to others and he’s a lot better at this time than he was at this time last year. “Stephen Lawrence is another backup who would play more for other teams, but he keeps pressure on our starters. He’s worked hard in the offseason. “ There is good size at tight end with Treston Davis (6-3, 241, Jr.) and Alijah Metz (6-2, 220, Sr.). “Treston Davis looks like a football player,” Appel said. “He has great length and great leverage and he attacks people and will be a dominant tight end. “Alijah Metz, he really loves playing for Fort Hill and wants to do his best because he has that Fort Hill name. He tries to be a leader on the team. He stays with his blocks and, if he does the little things, he’s going to be a good, dominant tight end as well.” And then there is Burt, who it seems is going to be a little bit of everywhere on the field for Fort Hill this year. “Burt is a versatile tight end,” said Appel. “He’s a tight end, H-back and just a good kid. He’s a crewcut kid you want to be a policeman — ‘Yes, sir; no, sir’ all the way.” At split end is BURT Andrew Smith (6-2, 186, Sr.) and Korey Stafford (6-0, 130, Jr.). “Andrew has good talent,” Appel said. “He’s athletic and he can catch the ball on the edge. Korey Stafford is not very big, but he gives it to us. He gives it all in practice. He’s not afraid. A. SMITH He will find a place because of his energy and because people like Korey Stafford will be successful in life.”
Along the defensive line, there are a lot of faces who do a lot of different things because Appel says, “We’re trying to find the best possible fit in every position and we have a multitude of guys.” At nose guard there is Burt (yes, him again): “Three-sport athlete with good hands, who wants to do well,” Appel said. “He got reps there last year, but we tried to save him for offense. It might be the opposite this year.” There is Jackson: “Great leverage,” Appel said. “Great quickness and great strength. He has good speed.” Also, “Carson Snyder is fast, athletic and aggressive. Good feet and could be at defensive tackle and linebacker at times. Jason VanMeter had a great state championship game so he played well in a big game and has had a really good preseason. He’s one of those anchors we hope of the defensive line. “Also Robert Bower (6-1, 180, Jr.) is fast, VANMETER strong and athletic in his first year of playing football. He wants to utilize his speed and strength to get to the football. Treston Davis has long arms and good leverage; we’re hopeful he gets better with his feet.” Grapes is also get- BOWER ting a look at nose guard and Appel says, “He’s working hard and hopefully he’ll find some minutes on one side of the ball or the other. Hunter Jacobs has good hands, good feet and is another guy looking at nose guard. “Stephen Lawrence is a strong kid who wants to do well. Phillip May (5-11, 190, Jr.) has had good practices and has made himself noticed in a good way and could possibly get in there on the defensive side of the ball. “Santana Plummer (5-11, 163, Jr.) is a fast kid at defensive line or outside linebacker WERTZ because of his speed and athleticism. Avery Spencer (5-11, 204, Sr.) has had a really good offseason. He’s made himself on scout team and shows promise in the offseason.” Also wide open is linebacker, where the Sentinels greatly benefitted from the play of co-Area Player of the Year Carter Swan and co-Defensive Player of the Year Colten Crabtree. “It’s going to be hard to replace those two,” Appel said, “because they were so fast and so smart.” Vying for the spots are Wertz, Kayden Shell (5-8, 150, Jr.), Welsh and Snyder.
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14 FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019
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“Paxton Wertz is so smart, so strong, so fast,” Appel said. “He understands the defense early as a junior. He’s a tough kid who makes tackles and will be around the ball. Kayden Shell has had a good offseason and is around the ball. “Sheldon Welsh is not real big or super fast but seems to be hungry and finds his way to the ball. He WELSH sees, runs and meets the ballcarrier in the holes he’s supposed to. He’s impressed me. And Carson Snyder could be a starting linebacker or defensive lineman.” At defensive end, where Fort Hill expects the position to be a linebacker as well, there is Austin Slider (5-4, 150, Sr.), Santmyire, Camren Stewart (6-0, 155, Jr.) and Brady McKinley (5-9, 145, Jr.) “Austin Slider is a SLIDER hard worker and is paying attention to detail,” said Appel. “He can make plays and can cover, things we want a defensive end to cover. Colby Santmyire, he does things we want as well. He needs to be smart, he needs to be a hybrid and he needs to come up and stop the runs. Colby can do that with speed and tenaciousness. “Camren Stewart has had a good preseason on both sides of the ball. He has really evolved into a good defensive end. Brady McKinely is doing well. He had a good scrimmage, knows how to play it, has good speed, and being super-intelligent always helps. “We just have to shake off the newness.” Alex Looker (6-2, 189, Sr.) will play safety and defensive end. “He can help us at either spot,” Appel said. “He has size and he can run.” At cornerback are Webb and Stubbs. “They’re two of our fastest kids,” Appel said. “They can be good cover-
age kids. They’re young and inexperienced, but learning a lot. Both kids have big upswing and a lot of potential and they try real hard, which gives them more options.” At safety, along with Looker, will be Andrew Smith, Santmyire, King and Stafford. “Andrew Smith is a tall kid, rangy, looks the part, gets to the high point of the ball and has good hands. LOOKER He’s a smart kid who understands coverages. Also, Santmyire is a smart kid. When needed, Danny King has incredible ball skills and understands where the quarterback is looking and jumps to the ball. He’s very versatile and if STAFFORD we want somebody covered, he will do it. “Korey Stafford will be a corner or safety. He’s a kid who gives it to you. He always gives his best effort. He’s undersized but has a lot of determination and effort.” The kicker and the punter, naturally, will be King. A repeat first-teamer on the All-Area team, King handles the punting, the kickoffs and the field goals for the Sentinels, averaging 40 yards a punt last season with 12 inside the 20, and delivered 86 touchbacks and 89 kicks inside the 20 on his 91 kickoffs. As the placement kicker, King was was 53 for 54 on extra points and 10 for 11 on field goals, with his long being 54 yards. King booted three field goals, including a school-record 54-yarder, to help Fort Hill to a 16-9 victory at Southern in the fifth game of the season. His 83 points scored was second on the team. Stuby will be the holder, while Allan Stevenson (5-8, 146, Jr.) is the long snapper. Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Follow him on Twitter @MikeBurkeCTN.
FORT HILL SENTINELS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 15
Fort Hill High School LOCATION
— 500 Greenway Avenue, Cumberland
BUILT
— 1936
MASCOT
— Sentinel
PRINCIPAL
— Candy Canan
ENROLLMENT
— 777