Steelton-Highspire used a dominant rushing attack and a strong defensive performance to defeat Newport 27-6 in a game played at Bishop McDevitt High School.
The contest was called with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter following an extensive injury delay. At that point, Steel-High held a 21-5 advantage in first downs and had outgained Newport 321-85, including a 213 to minus-2 advantage on the ground.
Steel-High struck first when Jaishawn George scored on a three-yard run with 8:56 remaining in the opening quarter. Yosiah Franklin added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Newport responded later in the quarter. Quarterback Logan Bates connected with Jameson Cummins for an 11-yard touchdown pass with three minutes remaining. The extra point failed, leaving the Buffaloes trailing 7-6.
From there, Steel-High took control.
Silas Hernandez opened the second quarter with a four-yard touchdown run, and Franklin’s extra point extended the Rollers’ advantage to 14-6.
George found the end zone again with 5:39 remaining in the half, scoring on a seven-yard run. The extra point was blocked, but Steel-High carried a 20-6 advantage into halftime.
The Rollers added another touchdown in the third quarter when Jayden Cleckner scored from one yard out with five minutes remaining. Franklin converted the extra point to make it 27-6.
The game later entered an extensive injury delay and was ultimately called with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter, making 27-6 the final score.
Steel-High’s ground game controlled the contest, producing 213 yards on 30 attempts. Cleckner led the way with 81 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Kamar Iberedem added 49 yards on six attempts, while George rushed eight times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
Ni’Shaun Ward-McMullen contributed 25 yards on three carries, while Hernandez finished with 17 yards and a touchdown on three attempts.
Quarterback Jayce Jones completed 11 of 18 passes for 108 yards with one interception. Kalvin Pillier led the Rollers’ receivers with three catches for 41 yards. Iberedem caught five passes for 38 yards, and Hernandez added three receptions for 29 yards.
Newport had difficulty establishing its running game against Steel-High’s defense. Landon Cigic led the Buffaloes with 18 yards on three carries, while the team finished with minus-2 rushing yards.
Bates completed 9 of 12 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Johnny Mayeresky and Myles Devlin each finished with 33 receiving yards. Mayeresky caught three passes, while Devlin had two receptions. Cummins caught two passes for nine yards, including Newport’s only touchdown.
Both defenses recorded an interception. Miles Devlin picked off a pass for Newport, while Iberedem recorded Steel-High’s interception.
The Rollers controlled possession with their rushing attack and limited Newport to five first downs and 85 total yards. Steel-High scored on the ground four times, including two touchdowns from George, to secure the 27-6 victory in a game shortened by the injury delay.
Newport 6 0 0 x–6
Steel-High 7 13 7 x–27
1st
SH-Jaishawn George 3 run (Yosiah Franklin kick), 8:56
N-Jameson Cummins 11 pass from Logan Bates (kick failed), 3:00
2nd
SH-Sila Hernandez 4 run (Franklin kick), 11:49
SH-George 7 run, (kick blocked), 5:39
3rd
SH-Jayden Cleckner 1 run (Franklin kick), 5:00
N SH
FDs 5 21
Rush-yds 16-(-2) 30-213
Passing 87 108
C-A-I 9-12-1 11-18-1
Tot Yds 85 321
Punts/Avg 3-40.3 0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Pen-Yds 4-18 4-35
3rd downs Cons 2-7 3-4
4th downs Cons 0-1 0-1
Rushing:
N– Landon Cigic 3-18, Johnny Mayeresky 1-1, Jameson Cummins 10-(-7), Logan Bates 3-(-14).
SH–Jayden Cleckner 9-81, Kamar Iberedem 6-49, Jaishawn George 8-45, Ni’Shaun Ward-McMullen 3-25, Silas Hernandez 3-17, Jayce Jones 1-(-4).
Passing:
N–Logan Bates 9-12, 87, TD
SH–Jayce Jones 11-18, 108, INT
Receiving:
N–Johnny Mayeresky 3-33, Myles Devlin 2-33, Jameson Cummins 2-9, Landon Cigic 1-12, Jose Toledo 1-0.
SH–Kamar Iberedem 5-38,Kalvin Pillier 3-41, Silas Hernandez 3-29.
INTs: N–Miles Devlin, SH–Kamar Iberedem
Note–Game was played at Bishop McDevitt HS–was called with 1:35 remaining in third quarter following an extensive injury delay.