Football: Fort Hill pulls away from Havre de Grace to capture historic fourth straight state title

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ANNAPOLIS — Fort Hill captains Brayden Brown, Brayden Conley, Nathaniel Graves and Richard Hess knelt at midfield following the coin toss, praying their final high school football game would conclude at a historic pinnacle.

After a 35-14 victory over Havre de Grace in the MPSSAA Class 1A state final on Saturday evening, the Sentinels “did what they’ve done since day one,” says Coach Todd Appel, and became the second team in MPSSAA high school history to win four consecutive football state titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). Urbana accomplished the feat from 1998-2001. Fort Hill also broke the record for most points scored in the state’s history (682).

“This is what we were living for since we were six years old,” senior Brayden Brown said. “We were at every single game in middle school; being waterboys.”

Saturday afternoon was a rare tussle for Fort Hill. Usually, the starters are out before the fourth quarter and a running clock is triggered in the second half, or, at times, in the second quarter. Going into the title bout, Fort Hill had won 53 of their previous 54 games. Receiver and defensive back Brayden Brown (140 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries) has been apart of the historic journey since day one, and, rather fitting, produced momentum-swinging plays to guide the Sentinels to the uncommon feat.

Fort Hill’s opening two drives ended in three-and-outs, and the second punt gave Havre de Grace prime field position inside of the Sentinels 40-yard line. Soon after, Brown helped block Clay Harris’ 37-yard field goal attempt. Harris had converted 12-of-14 attempts heading into Friday night’s contest.

Four minutes and 35 seconds later, Brown capped a 10-play, 72-yard drive when he took a sweep 21 yards to give Fort Hill a 7-0 lead. Later in the second quarter, Brown ripped off a 32-yard run to set up one of Troy Banks’ four touchdowns — his first on a 14-yard run to give Fort Hill a 14-0 advantage at the 10:32 mark in the second quarter.

Then when Havre de Grace was down 28-14, sustaining a drive inside the red zone, Brown jumped a passing lane for an interception, proving to be the final dagger.

“The other kids can count on him to do what he’s supposed to do,” Appel said of Brown.

Alongside Brown’s big-play presence, Banks rushed for 189 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. His third touchdown, which came on 5-yard run at the 1:08 mark in the third quarter, set the all-time record for most points scored in a single season. It also gave Fort Hill a decisive 28-14 lead.

Fort Hill’s fourth straight championship didn’t come easy, however.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, Markel Spencer let the ball slip out of his grasp at the 6-yard-line. The Warriors soon scored on a 1-yard run by Sean Greeley to draw within 14 points. After a Fort Hill three-and-out on the next series, Havre de Grace went 43 yards — 20 off two Sentinel penalties — in two minutes and 54 seconds to draw within 21-14.

“I was definitely nervous,” Appel said.

Appel stood up at the podium, unaware of how many games he’s won over the past four years. Saturday evening was the Sentinel’s 54th over that span.

“It’s a payback for hard work,” Appel said. “We don’t sit down and look at record books. We work and accomplish goals through hard work.”

After going “through the ringer,” according to Appel, all of them agreed with Brown’s notion of “inspiring” others. All of the accolades, like 54 wins, four state championships in as many years, and all-time scoring record doesn’t satisfy like players like Brown, who graduates with invaluable memories and a sturdy support system.

“When you get done, you’re kind of like, what now?,” Brown said. “But as we look back and see what we done, the program tells us what now. It gets us ready for life”