Monday, November 1, 2010

Meet the Steel-High Steamrollers

The Rollers are the likely third seed.

The Steel-High Steamrollers head into the final game of the season against District 11 power Schuylkill Haven with a 6-3 record.
The Rollers play in the Capital Division of the Mid-Penn Conference with the likes of Middletown, East Pennsboro, Trinity, Palmyra, Milton Hershey, Boiling Springs, Susquenita and Camp Hill.
The Capial Division, now including some Class AAA schools, is probably the toughest small school divisions in the state. The teams coming out of this division, who make the playoffs are battled tested.
The only common opponent is Boiling Springs. The Bub, Bub, Bubblers beat both the Tide and Rollers this season.
Rob Deibler is in his 12th season as Roller coach. He has back-to-back state titles to his credit and a bucket full of district titles. They didn't make the finals last year, losing in the first round to Millersburg.
Columbia has played the Rollers four times in the playoffs, the last being in 2008, which was a 39-6 Roller win. Other Roller wins over the Tide were (26-18, 1999), (35-7, 2000) and (33-7, 2005). Other teams on the Roller card that the Tide have lost to in the playoffs are Halifax, Trinity and Camp Hill.
There are two former Columbia players on the Roller coaching staff -- Tom Sherk and Tony Fillmore.
The best way to describe the Rollers in 2010 is young and athletic. As many as 14 freshmen are on the Roller roster, so their best football might just be next year and the year after. The Rollers can score and seem to be getting their defensive house in order, giving up 33 points in the last three weeks after giving up 209 the first six weeks of the season.
Talent-wise, there are a numberof great athletes.
QB Max Ward is 86-172-6, 1,439 yards and 10 scores. Clayton McNair is the leadaing rusher with 1,342 yards and 20 scores. JC Brandt is the top receiver with 41 catches for 725 yards and five scores and the list goes on.
A couple of freshman key the trenches with some juniors.
2010 Scores
SH 33, Halifax 22
SH 33, Middletown 7
East Pennsboro 56, SH 35
Trinity 53, SH 7
SH 36, Palmyra 26
SH 45, Milton Hershey 35
Boiling Springs17, SH 12
SH 47, Camp Hill 14
SH 28, Susquenita 2
This Week: Schuylkill Haven

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