Top 10 toughest teams FH has played since DeMatha 1996

[TDHelmick]

Alco and Keyser not withstanding as a couple of those teams could easily make this list.

In order by year. To put them in order by toughness is too subjective. Obviously open for debate.

1996 - DeMatha
1996 - Wheaton
1998 - Urbana
2003 - Martinsburg
2004 - Potomac
2006 - Dunbar (Balt.)
2006 - Martinsburg
2008 - Dunbar (Balt.)
2013 - Frederick Douglass (Balt.)
2015 - Sherando

Melbourne CC will be in this list. Trust me on that one.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

I agree it is impossible and totally subjective to rank these teams according to toughness. For my money, and I think many will agree, that Martinsburg 2003 team that came to Greenway and beat a very good Fort Hill team 41-2 passed the eye test as the most dominant team Fort Hill has played since 1996. Their defense was so, so dominant and that Nate Sowers to Brandon Barrett connection on offense was unstoppable. I don't remember ANY TEAM ever coming to Greenway and making Fort Hill look like a Youth League Team any more than they did.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

Potomac 2004 had the most dominating run defense I have ever seen, and in those days it seems like we were totally beholden to the run. Also, that team had the biggest Defensive Line I have seen at ANY LEVEL but the NFL. In fact, I think they were bigger than some NFL D Lines I have seen.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

1996 DeMatha most looked like a College Team. Wheaton 1996 was a great team, we never, ever had a chance. Urbana 1998 also a great team from the Urbana Dynasty years, as I recall, we played excellent for almost a half in that game before the wheels came off. Dunbar 2006, big play capability, that's all I can think of, they were capable of big plays every snap.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

Hands down, Sherando 2015, BEST GAME EVER. More fun than I've ever had on the road.

 

[BrianH1974]

The Dunbar team of 1994 was the best Dunbar team I have seen. I know that was before 96 which this list entails. That 94 FH was damn good. As good as any. Just 2nd fiddle to the Poets by a few plays.

 

[Waggle Pass]

The Dunbar team of 1994 was the best Dunbar team I have seen. I know that was before 96 which this list entails. That 94 FH was damn good. As good as any. Just 2nd fiddle to the Poets by a few plays.

That Dunbar team was the best I have ever seen at stripping the ball. FH lost six fumbles.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

That Dunbar team was the best I have ever seen at stripping the ball. FH lost six fumbles.

Dunbar 1994 Linebacker Tommy Polley went onto play at Florida State and then had a successful 6 years in the NFL with the Rams, Ravens and Saints. Also, don't forget Running Back Ali Culpepper that went on to play at Syracuse and then Morgan State. Worst part about the whole thing, perhaps that was the best Dunbar team of all time, who knows, but that 94 Fort Hill team was so, so, good, That of course is the year they went undefeated up until the title game and beat an almost equally good Allegany team twice. That Allegany team was undefeated going into Homecoming after playing a MONSTROUS regular season schedule. I think that 94 Fort Hill team also had 11 or more kids that went on to play at least "some" college football.

 

[BrianH1974]

Yep. That 1994 Homecoming game is still reported to be the largest crowd ever. Both teams so very good. When I see the photos of that game on the FH football website I am blown away by the crowd size filling up every nook of the stadium.

 

[FHHSAHS]

I agree with 90% of the list. Though, I would replace the 2013 Frederick Douglass (Balt) team with the 2008 Frederick Douglass (PG) team. The Eagles were a missed two point conversion from a very different outcome against the Sentinels.

Ironically, a 2 point conversion would be the downfall of those same Sentinels 7 weeks later in the finals.

 

[BoyznBlue]

I agree with 90% of the list. Though, I would replace the 2013 Frederick Douglass (Balt) team with the 2008 Frederick Douglass (PG) team. The Eagles were a missed two point conversion from a very different outcome against the Sentinels.

Ironically, a 2 point conversion would be the downfall of those same Sentinels 7 weeks later in the finals.

I agree. I believe they played two years in a row and both were close games. Now that Douglass (PG) is 1A (l think) this would be a good series to renew.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

I agree. I believe they played two years in a row and both were close games. Now that Douglass (PG) is 1A (l think) this would be a good series to renew.

I agree that Douglass PG could make that top 10 list. As to renewing the series, or you could simply wait to face them in the Seminals or Finals.

 

[TDHelmick]

I can't disagree with putting that Douglass PG team on there. Like I said, very subjective. Crazy enough though, the 2008 FH team for as much as they accomplished wasn't one of the better teams under Coach Appel across the board talent wise I felt. I thought they were better in 2009 despite getting upset in the playoffs.

I also pondered the 2010 Dunbar team that beat FH on the last play with a QB sneak in the state semifinal. Granted that 2010 FH team was a pretty good team, but there have been so many good ones that one just never stood out. They lost 3 games that year to Mount St. Joe, Martinsburg and TJ, two of which FH could have easily won. I was not overly impressed by Dunbar that year to add them in that list. But hard to tell as again this is so subjective.

But I did not have a problem putting the 2015 Sherando team in there. Coach Appel tells me that was one of the better teams he has had to prepare for since he took over. He says people don't realize how good of a team they were. I'll take his word seeing he has been on the Hill since 1993. And the 2013 undefeated Douglass Ducks team under coach Townsend was no slouch. That was a very good defensive team. They just ran into a Ty Johnson led FH team clicking. On a similar note former Douglass Ducks Coach Townsend is now the new head coach at Woodlawn, who is coming to Greenway for Fort Hill's second scrimmage. Coach Townsend was adamant about getting his kids up here to see that environment and what FH does. Pretty cool. I know the FH staff has some good respect for him.

 

[CometCrazy21]

Good to hear Woodlawn is making the trip up. They have some speed and athleticism which will present a decent challenge for FH and prepare them. We played them every year and I have some fond memories playing them. Some good hard hitting games. I see FH doing something similar to them what they did to Tuscarora last year however. Their program has fallen off a bit, but with Townsend at the helm, he seems like a good recruiter so talent may flock to SW Bmore County this year

 

[eshore_scout]

Great list, although I would add the 2008 CSD team. That was a really good game, and I believe CSD led by 8 with the ball in the second half before a "crazy" onside kick, and a couple of picks. Game ended with CSD inside the 10. Hard to argue with any of that list. I know 2013 Douglass was good but you guys beat them pretty good.