In a highly anticipated matchup of PIAA powerhouses, Southern Columbia showcased their dominance by overpowering Steel-High 55-26, securing a place in the semifinals of the Class 2A tournament. The game took place at Harold G. Bolig Memorial Field, where Southern Columbia amassed a staggering 484 total yards, with 359 of those coming from their ground game.
After the game, Steel-High head coach Andrew Erby lamented, “We got behind the sticks and physicality just showed up today. They were able to beat us in certain matchups that are typically to our advantage. We just couldn”t win the physical battle tonight, and it was obvious.” On the other hand, veteran coach Jim Roth of Southern Columbia acknowledged the challenges presented by Steel-High, stating, “They did some things with their alignments and their quickness that gave us some problems at times, but nonetheless, we were still able to score and our defense played well.”
The Southern Columbia attack was spearheaded by a trio of running backs: Brayden Andrews, Grady Garcia, and Joey Williams, who collectively found the end zone five times on the ground. Junior quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch had an impressive performance, completing 8 of 10 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns, with Blaise Kissinger catching two of those scoring strikes.
Defensively, Southern Columbia was formidable, limiting Steel-High to just 28 net rushing yards. However, Steel-High did find some success through the air, with quarterback Kayden Cole Stephens completing 10 of 22 passes for 172 yards, including two touchdowns. Notably, receiver Silas Hernandez caught six passes for 133 yards and one of those touchdowns.
Special teams also contributed to Steel-High”s scoring efforts, beginning with Quann Padgett, who blocked a punt and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Later, Jaishawn George electrified the crowd with a 91-yard kickoff return for another score, finishing the night with 159 return yards.
Southern Columbia quickly established control of the game. Following a blocked punt by John Quinton, Grady Garcia raced 51 yards for a touchdown on the Tigers” first offensive play. After stopping the Rollers on downs, Andrews scored on a 9-yard run to extend the lead to 12-0. Steel-High attempted to regroup, but Hockenbroch connected with Jace Malakoski for a crucial 20-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-19 play, further pushing Steel-High into a corner.
Erby noted, “They don”t pass the ball as much, but that is not because they can”t. They have two really athletic receivers, and we thought we put one of our better kids on them, but he made a hell of a play, and it put us in a tough situation.”
With this victory, Southern Columbia improved their record and will face Lansdale Catholic next, as they aim for a spot in the championship game at Cumberland Valley. Steel-High”s season ends with an 11-3 record, with their losses coming against teams that collectively boast a 36-3 record.
