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Another late fourth quarter touchdown for Steelton-Highspire earns trip to the chap with 28 to 21 victory over Canton at Kemp Memorial Stadium !

Tagged under: District 3, District 4, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| December 3, 2022

Photo submitted by: https://ntsportsreport.com … Chris Manning of Northern Tier Sports Report

It was Steelton coming back once again from behind to score two touchdowns to overcome a valiant defensive effort by the Warriors of Canton. Ronald Bernette Jr. pounded the ball late in the game to score the final touchdown with just :34 seconds to play in the game, earning another trip to the state finals for the Rollers.

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The game began with the Rollers getting the games opening kickoff and Steelton showed on their first drive that they came to play running 8 plays that went for 64 yards, capped off with a 16 yard touchdown run by Jaieon Perry to put the Rollers on top first 7 to 0 with 8:38 to go in the opening quarter. Canton was next up but would fumble the ensuing kickoff and the Rollers would have the ball again at the 33 but would fail to score after turning the ball over on downs at the Warriors 15 with 6:14 to play in the first. Once again, Canton would get the ball. Canton would go just 14 yards before having to punt following a high snap over the quarterbacks head on third down to bring up a 4th and 17 at the 29 after starting the drive at their 15.

Steelton would go three and out on their next possession and the Warriors would start at their 35 on the drive. One pass and four run plays later and we had ourselves a tie game at 7 when Brenen Taylor would take the handoff and race 12 yards to the endzone for the games next score with 11:43 to go in the first half. The rest of the first half was a back and forth defensive battle as both teams would punt a couple times adding an interception from Erby by Austin Allen late in the first half with just 1:51 to play. A huge sack by Isaiah Garfield for an 8 yard loss would end the Warrior drive with just :47 seconds to go until halftime with the score still tied at 7.

In the second half, it was Canton with the ball to start and in just six plays, the Warriors would take the lead for the first time in the game when Michael Davis would haul in the Holden Ward pass from 18 yards out, giving us a 14 to 7 game with 9:00 to play in the quarter. Steelton would answer on their possession going 45 yards, capped off with a 24 yard touchdown run by the powerful Ronald Bernette jr with 7:26 left in the third. The score would be 14 to 13 following the blocked extra point. Just one minute later, Canton would extend their lead to 21 to 13 after a big return gave them great field possession at their 47 and just four plays later, the Warriors scored with a 1 yard QB dive with 6:21 to play in the quarter.

The Rollers would settle down on their next drive and put together a 13 play, 80 yard drive, finished off with 1 yard plunge by Bernette jr., his second on the night thus far and a two-point conversion run by quarterback Alex Erby would tie the game at 21 with :58 seconds to go in the third quarter.

Now in the fourth, just like the second quarter, both teams would battle back and forth defensively with the Warriors running-back Riley Parker fumbling at the Rollers 45. Steelton wouldn’t have any better luck as they would turn the ball over on downs twice, but Canton would again fumble the ball away. Was it nerves coming into play, which team would overcome would be the question at this point. The Rollers would get their chance when the Warriors in the Roller territory with under 2 minutes to play. For the Rollers, any time left on the clock is enough time and Steelton wouldn’t let penalties take away the dreams of playing for a state title when in five plays, the Rollers would score the final touchdown of the game, Ronald Bernette, the work-horse of this Steelton team would score his third touchdown of the game, the third straight game he has scored three times, this one, a 10 yard run to pay-dirt to put his team in the lead with just :34 seconds to play in the game, eventually being the final score 28 to 21, and sending the Rollers back to the state championship game, this year in Cumberland Valley. Canton would get one last shot but would suffer an interception to give the ball back to the Rollers to end the game.

This game had it all, offense, defense, penalties, and more… the perfect type of playoff game with lot’s of energy and emotion from both sidelines and bleachers. What football games should be !! Player of the game, Ronald Bernette Jr. would rush for 170 yards, 3 touchdowns on 31 carries for the game. In the last 3 games, Bernette has totaled over 700 yards, scoring 9 touchdowns for the Rollers. After the game, Bernette was super excited to be headed to the state championship, giving all the credit to his linemen and teammates.

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