MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Steelton-Highspire's stellar seniors got an appropriate send-off Thursday in the PIAA Class 1A title game.
Led by senior quarterback Alex Erby, the Rollers successfully defended their state championship with a 42-8 rout of Fort Cherry at Cumberland Valley High School's Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.
Steel-High's 32-man roster features 13 senior players, most of whom had a hand in the three state titles the Rollers have collected in the last four seasons. The Steel-High seniors have accounted for three of the program's five overall state crowns.
Erby, who earlier this season became the state's all-time leader in career passing yardage and career passing touchdowns, set another state record in his final game with the Rollers. His five TD passes against Fort Cherry gave him 61 touchdown passes this season, eclipsing the previous state record of 57 set by Central's Jeff Hartenstine in 2021.
The Rollers were in command of Thursday's state final almost from the outset, building a 34-0 halftime lead by dominating every aspect of the game -- offense, defense and special teams.
Offensively, Steel-High racked up 388 total yards in the first half. Erby threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another -- though it should be noted that three of his TD tosses were quick pop passes. Two of those went to Nazir Fuller, who scored from 17 and 73 yards out. Jaieon Perry caught the other two touchdowns, scoring from 5 and 32 yards.
Erby's TD run came on a 49-yard keeper he appeared to audible to when he noticed Fort Cherry did not have a safety lined up in the middle of the field.
Defensively, Steel-High held the Rangers to 91 total yards, picked off sensational sophomore QB Matt Sieg twice, and came up with a huge goal-line stand late in the first half, denying Sieg's sneak attempt from inside the 1.
The Rollers even converted a fake punt from midfield to set up their third score.
Erby completed 18 of 22 first-half pass attempts and had 282 yards through the air before the break.
In the second half, Erby hit Taevon Legrande for a 3-yard TD strike to give the Rollers a 42-0 lead and kick in the Mercy Rule.
With the running clock, the only drama from that point was whether Steel-High would be able to preserve the shutout.
And it almost was, thanks in part to the two turnovers forced by the Rollers after halftime. But Sieg, who already has a scholarship offer from Penn State, scored on a 1-yard run with 1:47 left. The two-point conversion accounted for the final margin.
Erby left the field with a leg cramp with 4:53 left. The U.S. Naval Academy recruit leaves as the state's most-prolific high school passer. Ceasar set career records for receptions, receiving yardage, and touchdowns. Defensive lineman Eugene Green finished as the school's all-time sack leader.
But every one of Steel-High's seniors -- all of whom were escorted off the field by coach Andrew Erby as the clock wound down in the game's closing moments -- can leave with their heads held high. And the underclassmen who return next year have a huge legacy to live up to.