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Frankfort/ Ridge

First, how did this post get on the Frankfort/ Mt. Ridge topic? Anyway, I'll answer. Go back and look at the FH /BW game. FH didn't take a step back; they just played a much better team. They are still the best team in our area, they just don't play the creampuff schedule that Frankfort does. Frankfort will walk through their schedule and lose probably week two or three and we won't hear anything more about them. (There's a reason that they turn down FH but openly invite Alco to play them.)

Schedule difficulty reality

This was posted by mdhsfbfan on the MOCO board. Echoes what Todd's been saying.....

"There's no reason to avoid good teams under this format. Smart coaches are scheduling teams that can beat them so they can expose their weaknesses early and fix problems long before losing matters.

When I see top teams continue to schedule cream puffs for their open dates, I know it's a coach with way too much pride. It's fun rolling over bad teams and riding the hype train but it does nothing to make you better.

This loss means precisely nothing for Fort Hill and it will certainly help them improve."

Schedule difficulty reality

That's why a difficult schedule forces you to learn. Fans wanted a tougher schedule. The coaches have been receptive to a tougher schedule. But it's funny watching those people who asked for it complain about not winning every game. FH is 1-6 all time vs Dunbar. Yet they put them on the schedule with the youngest team in school history. At one point Friday, FH had 6 sophomores on defense against a good team with 1800 kids in the school. We will see what it yields against 1A competition.
Most likely Fort Hill will win the state championship again. Why not try to be the very best version of yourself. If teams are going to stack the box just at least have a short screen game..

Schedule difficulty reality

I was at the game. I’ll say this… the young man at QB isn’t bad at all! Number 1 the play calling was horrible! The coaching staff has no imagination. Against Northern you can get away with RRP. Against a team like BW you can’t. They had a big line and were well coached. Number 2 the route running is sh*t. Get with it coaches!! #8 is a solid game manager and his arm is more than adequate! He will be a state champion!
That's why a difficult schedule forces you to learn. Fans wanted a tougher schedule. The coaches have been receptive to a tougher schedule. But it's funny watching those people who asked for it complain about not winning every game. FH is 1-6 all time vs Dunbar. Yet they put them on the schedule with the youngest team in school history. At one point Friday, FH had 6 sophomores on defense against a good team with 1800 kids in the school. We will see what it yields against 1A competition.

Schedule difficulty reality

This kid hasn't progressed at all. As a matter of fact I think he's taken a step back. He has a connection somewhere on that coaching staff. Anytime this sort of nonsense is going on and you wonder how a kid is even on the field you can always trace it back to some sort of shenanigans with a father, an uncle, a brother in law...some shady crap.
I was at the game. I’ll say this… the young man at QB isn’t bad at all! Number 1 the play calling was horrible! The coaching staff has no imagination. Against Northern you can get away with RRP. Against a team like BW you can’t. They had a big line and were well coached. Number 2 the route running is sh*t. Get with it coaches!! #8 is a solid game manager and his arm is more than adequate! He will be a state champion!

Frankfort/ Ridge

You never know about this game. It could be close. I don’t want to take anything away from Briar Woods because I believe they are a very good football team. But this is the weakest Fort Hill team. I’ve seen in a long long time.
What is shocking is that FH looked to be improving after the Dunbar game. Okay Southern is not Dunbar but there were improvements in general. Maybe Hollidaysburg isn't as good as we thought so again, looking a little better and showing some areas of improvement maybe were misleading. Unless BW is a very very very good team then FH took a step back.
I still think this coaching staff is one of the best in the state but they are not figuring this team out like we've come to see in the past. As TH said so many changes are still being made and some of them that just don't make any sense. Can an offensive coordinator and a head coach really both think this up the middle over and over crap is the best game plan. As many have said, stick #5 in the wildcat for at least a couple plays here and there.
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Schedule difficulty reality

I’ve seen it too and one of them is a fumbler
This kid hasn't progressed at all. As a matter of fact I think he's taken a step back. He has a connection somewhere on that coaching staff. Anytime this sort of nonsense is going on and you wonder how a kid is even on the field you can always trace it back to some sort of shenanigans with a father, an uncle, a brother in law...some shady crap.

Allegany Co. 0 - 3

It’s really sad that so many local people want to see Fort Hill lose
I don't want them to lose, I just know football is really bad in 1A but really overall in all classes. Since covid football has gotten really bad, even Martinsburg doesn't look the same. Maryland needs to go back to 4 classes and quit all this all teams makes the playoffs.
I want FH to win it all and hopefully Frankfort can win it in WV AA as well

Briar Woods

I would tend to agree. Though I don’t think it has anything to do with any historical factors. The FH team that year was, not mincing words, soft. And they also played a pretty poor schedule that year from what I remember aside from the Erie team because some of the opponent's had unexpected down years.

This team, if they have to play on the road in the postseason, will at least have the experience of being in some tough games with quality competition.
Agreed. And what doesn’t take hold this year, is more than likely going to help them the following.

Schedule difficulty reality

Fans ask for a tougher schedule, but really don't understand what they are asking.

My main concern vs. Briar Woods was the lack of blocking. The OL struggled, the backs struggled even worse. Stated the same thing two years ago in Frostburg. Running backs standing around watching their guy make the tackle. Show me a RB that wants to block and he starts the next game.

I see players doing whatever they wish on the field (undisciplined). Likely due to so much youth. The secondary was out of place constantly with a QB throwing fast balls.

The FH passing game is lacking receivers running good routes, mobility behind center, and a lack of consistent protection up front. When you're only throwing 4 passes and one or two wind up being intercepted, it's easy to decide not to throw the ball. Especially when the receivers are blanketed. The only way around it is play action and throw when it's not 3rd and long. But in terms of throwing the ball ten times a game - not. Never really do on the Hill. This team reminds me of a much younger 2022 team. Had that team played this schedule they would be 3-2 right now. Schedule matters.

As for QB - not sure why coaches are bringing in another QB cold off the bench for obvious passing downs. #11 gets very few reps here all season, so to expect him to get 4 snaps a game in crucial situations and be successful isn't logical. There seems to be very little confidence in who the true starters are at most positions. Not sure how many linebackers played Friday, but none seemed like an answer.

Briar Woods

I'm beginning to think the mentality of the coaches is "we don't need to win this game, we don't care if we win this game, we are not changing or adapting as our goal is to win a state title and we do that by playing the way we are right now and it will beat everybody in 1a. We are not going to waste time practicing plays we'd only use against a Dunbar or BW when we don't need it to win the rest of our games".
I see one problem with this "everybody makes the playoffs so it doesn't matter". You have to be one of the top two seeds to be guaranteed home field. If FH doesn't rack up enough points to be one of the top two and they have to go on the road I see them losing. FH is not the same team on the road in the playoffs that they are at home. I think we all remember the last time FH had a road playoff game...massacre.
I would tend to agree. Though I don’t think it has anything to do with any historical factors. The FH team that year was, not mincing words, soft. And they also played a pretty poor schedule that year from what I remember aside from the Erie team because some of the opponent's had unexpected down years.

This team, if they have to play on the road in the postseason, will at least have the experience of being in some tough games with quality competition.
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Schedule difficulty reality

Please don’t🤣. I really appreciate a competitive schedule. I hated watching Carrick, Maths and Green Street coming into the stadium. I was just concerned. I appreciate your knowledge on the subject.

Now. Can you teach the coaches to implement a short passing game when running up the middle won’t work.
The lack of passing come from no trust in the QB and no trust in the O-line not to commit holding in my opinion. It seems like Everytime FH runs a quick out or swing pass it’s either intercepted of called back for holding. The coaching staff has shown they are willing to open up the play book in previous years but it seems like there’s just no trust in anyone this year.
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Schedule difficulty reality

All dynasty’s have their down times eventually. We all knew this would be a development year with these young but talented players. It does bother me, though, that some kids are being negative online about the very same coaches who got them to the title more than once. I mean, come on, have some faith and dance with who brought you. They have to remember that losing, as much as it stinks, builds character. I think 5-4 is going to be their best scenario, assuming they defeat Ridge and Alco.
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Briar Woods

They just beat their first team with a winning record, just because they were in the game with FH u say they are good lol
Hollidaysburg will still lose a few more games as they start playing Teams with winning records. They have lost to FH 8 times in a row!
When The Season ends Frankfort will be 10-0 and Area Champs..... all other locals will have at least 3 losses
frankfort hasn't beaten a team with a winning record other than the weakest mtn ridge team in 5 years
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Schedule difficulty reality

Hahahaha, no. Repeating my thoughts from August - FH may go 6-3 or even 5-4 with this schedule and 9 seniors on the roster. I also predicted back in August - FH is still the favorite to win a 1A state title. If so, they will go on to win 7 in a row. The 9, 10, 11 grade classes are loaded with numbers and talent. They are just all split up.

In answer to your question about the JV, FH fielded a full time freshman team this season for the first time since 2019. So not only are ten JV starters moved to varsity for FH, they also do not have a single 9th grader moved up to JV. Hollidaysburg has a competitive 9th grade team and the undefeated FH freshmen dominated them 36-16. The decision to split into freshman and JV was a development decision to get players that normally are not getting playing time to getting them full time action. Coaches were not concerned about the won/loss records from that decision.

It's obvious the FH contingent is in panic and finger pointing mode after already losing two varsity games. Cutting to the chase...this 2024 team does not have the horses or remotely have the experience to run the table against a schedule like this. This is the toughest schedule in a 100 mile radius including Martinsburg. If fans wish to swap out this schedule with other area teams and run a gauntlet of Moorefield, Hampshire, Weir, Northern and Mtn Ridge -- be my guest and feel free to make comparisons while sitting in the stands bored from the results.

Again, when I look out on the field and see six sophomores lined up on defense before the ball is snapped, no that isn't going to work against Dunbar and Briar Woods. So what we will do to accommodate fans comprehension is next season replace Briar Woods and the team from NY with other 1A programs and see what the win/loss record looks like. If we can't find other 1A programs then just pay MATHS, Silver Oak and Capital Christian. Then we can all be happy for never losing.
Please don’t🤣. I really appreciate a competitive schedule. I hated watching Carrick, Maths and Green Street coming into the stadium. I was just concerned. I appreciate your knowledge on the subject.

Now. Can you teach the coaches to implement a short passing game when running up the middle won’t work.
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