PRZMD Team Previews: Fort Hill

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Final record: 9-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lost 35-28 to Patuxent in the MPSSAA 1A Championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Season Schedule (Home games in bold)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/4 @ Northern Garrett</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/12 Belmont Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/17 Southern</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/25 Hollidaysburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/2 Bridgeport</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/9 @Mountain Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/31 Allegany</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noah House (QB), Braelyn Younger (RB), Landyn Ritchey (OL), Dakota Shambaugh (OL), Kyler Miller (DL), Ahmad Saunders (DB), Jacob Bone (P)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Returners</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2200-plus rushing yards left with rnning back Braelyn Younger, but [player_tooltip player_id='514044' first='Carson' last='Bender'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2240907' first='Neek' last='Taylor'] will both be in the mix to carry even more of the rushing load this season. Fort Hill will have a new signal caller as well. They have a lot of experience coming back at key positions along the front eight on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514044"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a485aabb7d78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 1A West First Team Defensive selection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bender was a big contributor on both sides of the football last season. On defense, he made 105 total tackles (42 solo), had 11 quarterback pressures, and deflected eight passes. Bender returns as the team's leading rusher from last season (82 carries for 525 yards and seven touchdowns). It looks like he's next in line to get the majority of the carries next season. I'm predicting no less than 1,200-plus rushing yards from Bender in a run-heavy offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2240910,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a485aabb7d27"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 1A West First Team Defensive selection. Twigg made 53 total tackles (19 solo) and hurried the quarterback 10 times last season. Rotates between middle linebacker and edge on defense. Like most of his teammates on defense, he's undersized from a recruitment standpoint, but uses his quickness to his advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2240911,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a485aabb7dc3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 1A West First Team Defensive selection. Riley wreaked havoc upfront, making 89 total tackles (29 solo) and hurried the quarterback 21 times. Undersized but his quickness off the snap is excellent. Listed at 6-0, 186 pounds, he also is a middle linebacker. Expect a 100-plus tackle season from him in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1894085"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a485aabb7cd1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 1A West First Team Defensive selection. House was a tackling machine for Fort Hill last season. He made 139 total tackles (72 solo), intercepted two passes, and deflected 19 others as a freshman. That's elite production regardless of classification. Based on his 2025 season highlights and a recent 7v7 highlight, he looks like he could possibly pan out as a strong safety prospect as well. He looks comfortable in pass coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2240914,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a485aabb7e0c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adams finished with 60 total tackles (18 solo) and an outstanding 25 quarterback hurries last season. He's currently listed at 6-1, 210 pounds and plays defensive tackle. Another fast, undersized lineman for Fort Hill. I think he's athletic enough to transition to middle linebacker at the next level, but would need some off-season pass-coverage film to back that up. In the meantime, he'll return in 2026 as one of the more disruprtive players in Class 1A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landon Richardson | 5-11 | 160 | Tight End | 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson was a Class 1A First Team selection on offense. He caught eight passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. His contributions don't show up in the state sheet for a run-heavy offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2240916' first='Casey' last='Martz'] | 6-1 | 220 | Offensive Line | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martz was a Class 1A First Team selection on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2240907' first='Neek' last='Taylor'] | 5-8 | Defensive Back | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor was a Class 1A First Team selection on defense. On defense, Taylor made 42 total tackles (15 solo) and broke up 17 total passes. He also found time to carry the football 24 times for 209 yards and six times. Don't be surprised if he gets an uptick in carries this upcoming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Leatherman | 6-0 | 155 | Defensive Lineman | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leatherman was a Class 1A First Team selection on defense. Undersized, yet very productive. He amde 45 total tackles (15 solo), sacked the quarterback 4.5 times, and hurried the quarterback 14 times last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jameson Powell | 6-2 | 175 | Wide Receiver | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powell is a perfect example of someone who makes the most out of the opportunities given to him. He caught 16 passes for 498 yards and eight touchdowns. That's a very impressive 31.1 yards per catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->