The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Steelton Edges Canevin in Battle of Top-Ranked Single A Teams

Tagged under: District 3, District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| August 27, 2022

In a battle of two of the top single A teams in PA, the Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers edged the Bishop Canevin Crusaders 21-14.    This was the first game of The Chambersburg Peach Bowl Football Showcase series of six games to be played over two days.  “It’s going to be fun,” Coach Andrew Erby said before the game.

Canevin scored first after stopping Steelton in Crusader territory.  A 50-yard Jason Cross to Xavier Nelson pass and catch put the Crusaders up 7-0 after Geno DeFrank booted the PAT.  Cross had lined up as a back so technically it was a halfback option pass.

From there Steelton’s Jakhai Noss took over and scored the next three TDs.  The first was on a 15-yard run in the opening quarter, then on a 59-yard pass reception from Alex Erby and an 85-yard interception return in the second quarter.  The pick six came with only 18 seconds remaining in the half.    Noss said this might be his breakout year and that he has worked hard over the summer.  He also stated that he just did what he could to help the team.

Alex Erby #9 and Jakhai Noss #1.

The second half was completely dominated by Canevin as they outgained Steelton in yardage 256-88 after a pretty even first half.  “We struggled a little bit on offense,” said Erby.  “Maybe with my mother passing our offense was behind.  I wasn’t as sharp as I usually am but the kids won the game and I really appreciate that.  It was a really rough week for me, but the kids executed enough to win.  They’re (Bishop Canevin) the number one team in the state because they deserve it.  They have some really good football players.  That game could’ve gone either way.  Again, it was a rough week for us and I put all that on me because I wasn’t my normal self.”

The Crusaders drove twice into Steamroller real estate in the third quarter but Steelton’s defense came up big and stopped them.  Early in the fourth stanza Canevin’s Marquis Carter scored on a 6-yard run to cut the Rollers’ lead to one score.  The next time Canevin had the ball after forcing a Steelton punt, they drove from their 16 to the Steelton 44 but failed to convert on fourth down with 3:30 left.

As a result the Rollers got a couple of first downs to the Crusader 13, but a penalty set them back to the 23.  Erby, Steelton’s all-state QB, then tried to fool the defense and threw a crossing pass that was tipped and intercepted by Tyjer Clayton giving Canevin hope with 1:41 left in the contest.  Kole Olszewski quarterbacked the second half for Canevin and drove the Crusaders to the Steelton 2-yard line with just 25 seconds left by completing five straight passes for 75 yards and no time outs.  Then a bad snap lost eight yards back to the ten and with time ticking down the ball was spiked on fourth down as time ran out giving Steelton-Highspire the win.

These two talented teams, at times looked like the top couple teams in A, but at other times they looked like regular Joes.  The game was filled with penalties as each team either shot themselves in the foot when they had the ball or gave the other team extra downs on defense.  Steelton had 70 yards in penalties, while Canevin had a whopping 114.  Don’t be surprised if these two teams don’t meet again in Cumberland Valley in December.

When told what he said before the game, Coach Erby was asked if the game was still fun considering the way it ended.  “I’m so used to it now.  After this week a game like that was fun,” he reaffirmed his pregame statement.  Canevin outgained Steelton 435 to 273.  Carter led all rushers with 153 yards on 25 carries.  Olszewski was 12 for 23 for 176 yards all in the second half.  Noss led the Rollers with 69 yards rushing and 59 in reception yardage thanks to his TD catch.  Erby threw for 109 yards for the winners.

Steelton-Highspire’s band put on the halftime show and the highlight was the Flintstones theme song.

Box Score:

Bishop Canevin        7   0   0   7  –  14

Steelton-Highspire   7  14  0   0  – 21

Scoring:

First Quarter:

8:13 – Canevin – Nelson 50-yard pass from Cross.  DeFrank PAT.                                          7-0

1:02 – Steelton – Noss 15-yard run.  McCraw PAT.                                                                  7-7

Second Quarter:

8:22 – Steelton – Noss 59-yard pass from Alex Erby.  PAT no good.                                      13-7

0:18 – Steelton – Noss 85-yard interception return.  Burnette run 2-pt. conversion.               21-7

Fourth Quarter:

10:13 – Canevin – Carter 6-yard run.  DeFrank PAT.                                                             14-21

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x