SMITHSBURG, Md. — A showdown between unbeaten high school football teams turned into a showcase for one of Maryland’s perennial powers Friday night.
Fort Hill scored three first-quarter touchdowns and rolled to a 49-14 victory over Smithsburg before a packed crowd that included a large contingent of fans who made the trip from Cumberland.
The Sentinels (8-0) — who have won 11 Maryland Class 1A state championships, including four of the last five — built a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter and stretched their advantage to 35-7 by halftime.
But for Smithsburg (7-1), the loss didn’t erase what the Leopards have accomplished under second-year coach Dave Lawrence.
Two years ago, Smithsburg went winless. Last season, in Lawrence’s first year, the Leopards improved to 4-6. This fall, they opened with seven straight victories and secured their first winning season since 2015.
“I hope people notice it because it’s been a lot of work,” Lawrence said. “It’s crazy when we finally won some games and everybody was saying we didn’t play anyone and things like that. The kids have done a great job of turning this whole thing around.”
Fort Hill wasted little time taking control Friday.
Channing Logsdon opened the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown run with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Isaiah Welsh blocked a Smithsburg punt, and Jameson Powell-Morris returned it 17 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
Neek Taylor added a 2-yard touchdown run late in the quarter, putting the Leopards in a 21-0 hole.
Smithsburg finally broke through in the second quarter when quarterback Luke Scott connected with Dakota Sowers for a 22-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 21-7 with 8:44 remaining before halftime.
But Fort Hill answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Carson Bender, followed by a 5-yard TD run by quarterback Levi House with just 19.5 seconds left in the half.
Despite trailing 35-7, Smithsburg didn’t fold.
On the opening possession of the second half, Nicolas Roncone broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run just 61 seconds into the third quarter, giving the home crowd something to cheer about and trimming Fort Hill’s lead to 35-14.
“They could have packed it in at halftime, and they didn’t,” Lawrence said.
The Leopards kept Fort Hill off the scoreboard for the remainder of the third quarter, but the Sentinels added two more touchdowns in the fourth. Taylor scored on a 17-yard run just 17 seconds into the period, and Bender capped the scoring with a 5-yard run with 2:32 remaining.
Lawrence credited Fort Hill’s physical play and coaching.
“They’re just extremely physical, and they’re well coached, as always,” he said. “They come out, they try to intimidate people, and they’re a great program. The history’s already been written with those guys. They’re established.”
Smithsburg’s defense had some bright spots, including a fumble recovery by Jack Rawlett and an interception by Marquis Weakfall.
Lawrence said he was encouraged that his players continued competing despite the early deficit.
“I’m just proud that the kids didn’t quit,” he said. “They just kept playing hard.”
The Leopards will close their regular season at home next Friday, Oct. 30, against rival Boonsboro, which has beaten Smithsburg 15 straight times. The Leopards’ last win over the Warriors came in 2010.
