There are countless words that could be used to describe the 2026 edition of the Smithsburg football team.
Dominant. Exceptional. Superb. Remarkable. Just to name a few.
But when the Leopards take their home field on Friday against the Fort Hill Sentinels — one of the premier programs in all of Maryland — they’ll be wearing an unfamiliar label: underdog.
Smithsburg is off to a 7-0 start, but that’s still not enough to count them as favorites over Fort Hill (7-0), a squad that has rolled up nine MPSSAA Class 1A state titles since 2013.
The Leopards have grown used to stomping their competition, but will need to play at the very top of their capabilities to have a shot against the Sentinels in a contest we’ve selected as our Game of the Week.
Smithsburg, led by the arm of QB Luke Scott and a multi-faceted run game spearheaded by Nicolas Roncone, has to like its chances as it rolls into this game bursting with confidence and on a full head of steam. No one would love to silence the Leopards’ feel-good story more than the Sentinels, who trounced their Washington County foes by 50 points last fall.
Can Smithsburg pull off the upset? There’s only one way to find out.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Fort Hill at Smithsburg
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m., at Smithsburg
Records: Both the Sentinels and Leopards check in at 7-0.
Last game: Fort Hill notched a 42-6 win over North Hagerstown, while Smithsburg is coming off a 42-13 victory over Catoctin.
Last meeting: The Sentinels smashed the Leopards 56-6 last season.
Meet the Sentinels: Fort Hill has been THE team in MPSSAA Class 1A for well over a decade now … Since 2013, the Sentinels have won nine state titles. They are coming off a 2025 campaign that saw them finish as state runner-up after a loss to Patuxent in the final … Coach Zack Alkire’s squad, ranked No. 1 in the Class 1A West standings, have annihilated their seven opponents by a combined 323-84 score … Fort Hill has posted three of its victories over winning squads, including Hollidaysburg (5-2) by a 35-21 score in Week 4, Bridgeport (6-2) 43-42 in Week 5, and Mountain Ridge (4-3) 36-7 in Week 6 … The Sentinels offense, which averages 46.1 points per game, is led by QB Brady O’Neal, who has completed 24 of 33 passes for 695 yards and eight TDs without a single interception … O’Neal takes care of the handoffs for an uber-talented quartet of runners that include Carson Bender (115 carries, 783 yards, 11 TDs), Neek Taylor (84-683-13), Channing Logsdon (23-300-2), and Isaiah Welsh (23-242-3) … Jameson Powell-Morris leads the Sentinels in receiving with seven catches for 196 yards and two TDs, while Bender (2-130-2), Taylor (7-164), and Logsdon (3-114-2) have also factored into the air attack … Smithsburg would be wise to keep an eye on Christian Riley, a 6-foot-1, 178-pound defensive end who has been a terror in the pass rush. Riley has recorded 42 tackles, a total which includes 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, to go along with 14 QB hurries … Harley Twigg leads Fort Hill with 58 tackles, while Levi House (51 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss), Jaiden Beck (45 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss), and Owen Walker (40 tackles) are also frequent flyers for the defense … Logsdon has been solid in the secondary with two interceptions and five pass breakups … Guided by this group of defenders, Fort Hill is allowing just 12 points per game this fall … Kicker Bobby Brauer has knocked in 31 of 32 extra-point attempts and is 1 for 1 on field goals … With a win over Smithsburg, the Sentinels would improve to 7-1 all-time over the Leopards.
Meet the Leopards: In case you haven’t been paying attention to the headlines, Smithsburg is 7-0 for the first time since its 10-1 campaign in 2008 … The Leopards, ranked No. 2 in the Class 1A West standings, have already clinched their first winning season since 2015, when they went 6-4 … Coach Dave Lawrence’s boys have gotten the job done in all facets of the game this fall, pasting their competition by a combined 270-74 score in the process … While six of Smithsburg’s seven wins have come over opponents who currently have losing records, the Leopards do own a notable victory over Williamsport (6-1) after beating the Wildcats 21-14 in Week 2 … QB Luke Scott calls the shots for an offense that is averaging 38.6 points per game this fall. Scott has completed 46 of 82 passes for 520 yards, seven TDs, and two interceptions, while also compiling 136 rushing yards on 27 carries … With Scott keeping opposing defenses honest with his arm, Smithsburg has been able to thrive on the ground, averaging 7.8 yards per carry as a team … Nicolas Roncone has been the top rusher for the Leopards with 81 carries for 614 yards and 11 TDs, but there are plenty of other capable horses in the stable, including Noah Hegbe (35-397-4), Zach Linn (44-337-5), and Riley Carr (16-107-2) … Smithsburg’s primary receivers have been Dakota Sowers (9 catches, 179 yards, 4 TDs), Marquis Weakfall (17-108-1), and Roncone (10-128-2) … Defensively, the Leopards are allowing 10.6 points per game and are fueled by the sharp play of a trio of players — Carr, Scott, and Hegbe — who have combined for nearly 150 tackles … Carr leads Smithsburg with 52 tackles, a total which includes six tackles for loss and three sacks … Scott has posted three breakups to go along with 49 tackles and six tackles for loss, while Hegbe has contributed 45 tackles and four tackles for loss … Other notable players in the Leopards defense include Jaxon Dodson (32 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups), Linn (31 tackles), and Jack Rawlett (4 interceptions) … Hegbe is a danger in the kick return game, averaging 41.7 yards per return … Kicker Walker Clark has converted 31 of 34 extra points and is 3 of 5 on field goals, including a long make of 38 yards … Punter Nick Kessinger has been put to work just seven times this season, averaging 39.1 yards per punt … Smithsburg has only one win over Fort Hill in program history. It came in 2024 by forfeit when it was determined the Sentinels had used an ineligible player.
Sandrik’s pick: Fort Hill by 17.
