MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The Fort Cherry Rangers fell to the Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers 42-8 in the PIAA 1A State Championship at Cumberland Valley High School.
The Steamrollers relied on their speed to win their third state title in four years, outrunning the Rangers with shovel passes and jet sweeps. Their speed stood out on the other side of the ball too, as the Steamrollers stifled Fort Cherry’s passing game, allowing just four completed passes to quarterback Matt Sieg. Sieg carried the ball 30 times, but rushing offense didn’t do much good as the game spiraled out of control early.
Steelton-Highspire quarterback Alex Erby threw five touchdown passes, meanwhile, establishing a Pennsylvania single season record with a total of 61. Two of those touchdowns came off shovel passes in the first quarter, helping the Steamrollers build a 14-0 lead.
Fort Cherry appeared to make their first stop of the game late in the opening frame, with the Steamrollers calling a timeout ahead of a fourth-and-seven play. Instead, Steelton-Highspire faked the punt, with receiver and punter Jaeion Perry easily outrunning the Rangers to the sideline.
The Rangers ended up stopping Steelton-Highspire on fourth down later in the drive, but they couldn’t capitalize after a Sieg interception. Erby ran up the middle almost untouched for a 37-yard touchdown soon thereafter, then added touchdown passes of 77 and 32 yards to take a 34-0 lead.
Fort Cherry drove to the Steamrollers’ one-yard line late in the second quarter, but Steelton-Highspire sniffed out a fourth-down quarterback draw to preserve the shutout.
Erby connected with tight end Taevon Legrande for a three-yard score midway through the third quarter, going ahead 42-0 as the clock began to run.
Fort Cherry broke up the shutout with 1:47 to play on a one-yard rushing score from Sieg.
I call BS. Steelton’s right across the river from Mechanicsburg; it was basically a home game for them. They should have played this game in Altoona or somewhere like that.
Poor excuse.. Play this game on any field and the result is the same. Look at the stats. Steel-High was dominant on both sides of the ball.