Hard work, faith and friendship. They all combined to produce a 26-22 Fort Hill victory over Allegany Saturday afternoon at Greenway Avenue Stadium in one of the most exciting games in the 80-game history of Fort Hill-Allegany football.
The hard work came from the Sentinels in withstanding a machine-like performance by the Allegany offensive line and running backs, as the Campers held nearly a two-to-one advantage in time of possession, 31:36 to 16:24 for the Sentinels.
The faith came into play as Fort Hill, after leading Allegany by two touchdowns with 9:10 to play in the third quarter, fell behind 22-19 with 5:24 to play in the game, only to mount its only real drive of the game, covering the needed 80 yards to score the winning touchdown with 18 seconds left in the game — on fourth-and-goal, inches from the goal line, no less, after the Alco defense mounted a near-heroic stand.
The friendship has been part of this Fort Hill team from the beginning, and it was in clear evidence when the Sentinels come down the steps and through the tunnel, not to jump into a massive get-psyched pile of humanity, but to go over to the bench to greet their teammate Mike O’Kelly, their star running back from a year ago who was badly injured in an automobile accident last February.
One by one, the Sentinels, wearing O’Kelly’s No. 2 on their shoes, came to him, seated in his wheelchair near midfield to embrace him, to promise him their best, to tell them they love him, and to thank him for being such a wonderful teammate.
Senior halfback Mike Durr, who wore No. 34 in the first eight games of the season, including last week when he returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown to help the Sentinels to a three-point win over Mountain Ridge, came to O’Kelly wearing No. 2 ... on his jersey.
Make that Mike O’Kelly’s jersey, which would, after all, be a major presence in this Homecoming Game.
“It meant a lot to me,” O’Kelly said with a soft smile as he held the Great American Rivalry championship trophy that, along with the Old Iron Kettle, was presented to the Sentinels after the game. “It meant a lot to me because Mike has been my best friend since I moved here (from Pittsburgh).
“It nearly put me in tears. When he asked, it meant the world to me.”
Fort Hill coach Todd Appel said this was no spur-of-the-moment decision on Durr’s part.
“It wasn’t spur of the moment at all,” Appel said. “Mike Durr asked me in April if it would be OK with me if he wore Mike O’Kelly’s jersey for Homecoming. This week I asked him what he wanted to do, and on Monday I hung it in his locker.
“We’ll see if he wants to wear it next week.”
As for O’Kelly, despite not being able to play, he’s every bit the member of the Fort Hill Sentinels team that he always was, attending practices when he’s able to, and being there on the sideline when his teammates need him.
“Every game,” said junior split end Devin Lee, “we play for him. We’re a different team with Mike.”
The versatile Lee, who only plays about nine positions for Fort Hill, was feeling and doing something different, something extraordinary, on that final drive when he made a sensational one-handed catch of an Eric Howser pass to put the ball on the Allegany 35.
“Mike O’Kelly is a great inspiration,” said Appel. “He’s a silent inspiration. He doesn’t want fanfare, he wants to be part of the team; and the kids know he’s around. They wear No. 2 on their shoes, and today Mike Durr wore his jersey.
“Mike O’Kelly doesn’t want to win the game for them, he wants to play hard.”
“It was a perfect game between two great teams,” O’Kelly said, still clutching that trophy. “Allegany is so tough. But in the end, it worked out great for us.”
As for Durr, he and O’Kelly enjoyed their own private moment of celebration amidst the sea of red-clad supporters who stormed the field after the hard-earned victory. And as he began the sprint up those 52 steps to take off jersey No. 2, he reflected on what a memorable day it had been and what a memorable friendship he shares with O’Kelly.
“He’s been my best friend ever since the sixth grade,” Durr said. “He’s like Superman to me; always has been. To me, he is indestructible, and to see him after that accident was life-changing for all of us. I just wanted to come out here on what would have been one of the biggest days of his life and be an inspiration to him, because he’s always been an inspiration to me.
“He’s my best friend ... He would have done the same thing for me.”
As the Fort Hill players concluded their post-game rituals in the team room atop those 52 steps, Coach Appel was informed that “Mike hasn’t seen you yet, and he’s not leaving you until he gets his hug.”
As Kelly wheeled himself into Appel’s office, the Fort Hill coach went to him and gave him his hug.
“Congratulations, Coach Appel,” O’Kelly said. “Thank you for everything.”
“Mike,” Appel said. “Thanks for being with us. Thanks for being a member of this team.”
And then with a laugh, Appel said, “Mike Durr didn’t play like you today, did he?”
Yeah, in the same inspirational manner with which Mike O’Kelly plays the game he loves, yes, Mike Durr played exactly like Mike O’Kelly on Saturday.
Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Write to him at mburke@times-news.com
Mike Burke - Sports
Friendship wins the day for Fort Hill
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