Fort Cherry attempts to dethrone Steelton-Highspire
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
By Luke Campbell
For the Observer-Reporter
A few days before the Fort Cherry High School football team played in its first state playoff game in program history, head coach Tanner Garry talked about enjoying the Rangers’ feel-good story but worrying about what might be coming over the hill.
And after a thrilling 33-23 victory over Redbank Valley in last Friday’s semifinals, there were no unexpected surprises coming for the Rangers or Garry. Now, it’s about playing king of the hill with a team that has been there and done that.
In search of a third state title in four years, undefeated and high-powered Steelton-Highspire (15-0) awaits, trying to end the Rangers’ climb to the top while defending its PIAA championship.
“There has to be a team that’s favored and an underdog,” Garry said. “If being the underdog is the category we fall in then that’s fine. They have been there and done that. They have more experience than us. They are big across the board. They are fast across the board. We are ready for the challenge and are going to give ’em hell.”
Kickoff for the PIAA Class A championship is set for 1 p.m. Thursday at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field, a mere 20-minute drive and over the Susquehanna River – away from District 3 champion Steelton-Highspire.
The Rollers won’t be casting any stones but are sure to be the biggest challenge through the air that Fort Cherry (15-0) has seen the entire season with star senior quarterback Alex Erby. A Navy recruit, Erby is Pennsylvania’s all-time passing leader in yards (13,227) and touchdowns (170). He has completed 228 of 297 passes this season, accumulating 4,084 yards with 56 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
A bend-but-not-break Fort Cherry defense will be tested with both the size and speed of the Rollers, relying on cornerbacks Nashaun Sutton and Evan Rogers, along with sophomore sensation Matt Sieg and three-year starter Zach Serafin. Sutton sealed Fort Cherry’s semifinal victory last Friday with an interception.
“(Erby) is a great player with a great supporting cast,” Garry said. “We aren’t going to completely shut them down. That’s not in the cards. We must limit their big plays and take advantage of the chances that we have. Like we have done all year, we have to will our opponent into playing our type of game.”
The Rangers’ smashmouth football runs through their own standout quarterback in Sieg, who has 2,234 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns on 227 carries. The dual-threat quarterback also has completed 82 of 146 passes with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Sieg, behind Fort Cherry’s senior-dominated offensive line, has already eclipsed 4,000 yards rushing in his first two seasons. He will need to add to that lofty total to keep the Rangers in sync offensively while keeping the Steelton-Highspire offense off the field.
“We can go tempo when we want to or slow down when we want,” Garry said. “We aren’t winning on every single rep and we’re OK with that. As long as we are winning a majority of them.”
Steelton-Highspire has won four state titles since 2007. Its last two championships have come in victories over WPIAL champs Union, 22-8, in last year’s final and Jeannette in 2020.
“We have overcome adversity. And each week you are going to find a better team and have to face more of it,” Garry said. “For us, it’s always been about the same thing. There is going to be a team that is more physical. If we can continue to be that team, make them play our game for four quarters, we always give ourselves a chance.”
Extra points
David Cooper, mayor of McDonald, announced in a proclamation that Thursday will be Fort Cherry Ranger Nation Day. … Fort Cherry’s only team state championship was won in 1960-61 by the boys basketball team.