2023 Class 1A Title Game Preview: Fort Cherry

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Phil Myers | December 6, 2023

Fort Cherry Rangers

PIAA District 7 – Class A
League: WPIAL 1A Section 3
Head Coach: Tanner Garry

Overview:  Fort Cherry is undefeated at 15-0 and ranked 2^nd behind Steelton-Highspire.  The Rangerss won their first ever WPIAL crown and are making their first ever PIAA championship game appearance.  A few of the Rangers’ bigger wins along the way were against Bishop Canevin twice, an undefeated South Side in the WPIAL finals, and Redbank Valley, a finalist from two years ago.

How they got to the Title Game: The Rangers beat Redbank Valley in the semi-final game 33-23.  Trailing at halftime 9-7 and at the end of the third quarter 16-13, Fort Cherry put on a fourth quarter rally to behold outscoring Redbank 20-7.  The game was in doubt until the Rangers scored with a minute and a half to go.

2023 SCHEDULE

Key players/Stats:

Matt Sieg, the sophomore quarterback phenom, is the straw that stirs the drink for Fort Cherry.  He is a dual threat, but most of the games he wins is with his feet.  Last week he scored three rushing touchdowns in the 4^th quarter.  He’s thrown for 1630 yards and 20 TDs to a variety of receivers.  But he’s rushed the rock for 2,221 yards and an amazing 39 touchdowns.  In fact, Sieg is the leading rusher in yardage in the WPIAL and is tops in the state with his 39 rushing touchdowns.

Ethan Faletto is the person that keeps teams honest when Fort Cherry runs the ball.  Faletto has over 1,100 yards on the ground and has scored 17 touchdowns.

Shane Cornali is probably the main receiver out of many.  Cornali has caught 24 passes for 488 yards and 5 scores.

Corey Bouchelle and Louis Ryan lead the defense of Fort Cherry.  Both linebackers have recorded over 100 tackles to date in 2023.

Offensive keys to winning: The key to Fort Cherry toppling Steelton is to have Matt Sieg be himself.  The coaching staff should let him continue to be creative when running the ball and allow him to make some throws to keep the opposition honest.  No one has stopped him for a whole game yet.  There is no reason that Sieg will not be productive against a team that prides itself on offense, but at times has defensive letdowns.  Fort Cherry can strike from anywhere, but they also have proven they can go on lengthy time-consuming drives.  If they can do the latter and keep the ball away from Steel High most of the game, the Rangers have an excellent chance of coming away with the triumph.

Defensive Keys to winning: The keys are to bend but don’t break and limit big plays/quick strikes.  Steelton is going to score and they are going to make plays.  But by making them drive long distances, they are prone to mistakes.  Fort Cherry’s defense is under-rated and if they get up on the Rollers, forcing them to pass more than they want, the Rangers can pin their ears back and come at Steel High’s record-setting quarterback with all they got.

Starting Lineup:

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews