2023 Class 1A Title Game Preview: Steelton-Highspire

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, Playoffs

Mason Eddinger | December 6, 2023

Steelton-Highspire Rollers

PIAA District 1 Class A

League: Mid-Penn Conference-Capital

Head Coach: Andrew Erby

Overview: Coach Andrew Erby has gotten the Rollers back to the State Title game, and looks primed to go back-to-back. QB Alex Erby is statistically the best QB the state has ever seen. This Thursday afternoon, he has a chance to claim another record as he looks for the single-season passing TD record at 57, he currently has 56. The passing attack gets a boatload of credit, but the running game propelled them to a 48-21 win over South Williamsport in the semifinals. Couple that with a defense that can wreck any game with their athletes on the defensive line and secondary, they enter the matchup against Fort Cherry as the favorites.

How they got to the title game: Throughout the year, they averaged over 45 points a game and used the prolific offense to guide them to a perfect 10-0 regular season record. When the playoffs rolled around, the offense continued its dominance, but the defense stepped up to help them win a 21-6 game against Northern Bedford and keep the season rolling(pun intended). All three phases of the game must be on point to beat Fort Cherry for the state title.

2023 SCHEDULE:

KEY PLAYERS: 

QB Alex Erby: No shocker here, Erby is the player that will factor the most in the result in this game.

 ATH Jaieon Perry: In their win against South Williamsport, Perry was the difference in the 2nd half.

RB Ronald Burnette Jr: He excelled last week against South Williamsport. He takes some of the weight off of Erby’s shoulder.

OL/DL Andrew Erby Jr: The 3-star Ohio commit is dominant on the interior of the defensive line and has helped shut down run defenses all year.

OFFENSIVE KEYS TO WINNING: Keep the defense guessing, Coach Erby does a great job mixing in the run and pass and going unconventional to keep the defense on their toes. Fort Cherry has to be worried about the lethal passing attack, which allows the running game to be more effective.

DEFENSIVE KEYS TO WINNING: Continue to stop the running game. One thing they need to improve on is allowing the deep ball and selling out for the run. Multiple times against South Williamsport, they had no help over the top and were beaten on multiple pass plays over 40 yards.

Starting Lineup:

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