Bamm Appleby’s senior season was in jeopardy; he was set to play quarterback at Middletown before the Blue Raiders’ season was canceled due to the well-known hazing incidents.
Fortunately for Appleby, and Steelton-Highspire, he was able to transfer to the school and suit up for the legendary Mid-Penn Capital football program.
He’s not playing quarterback since junior quarterback Alex Erby, who has multiple Division 1 offers, is on the roster.
Appleby moved to a flex role in the offense and got a few carries, caught a pass, and converted a two-point conversion.
“Oh, it’s fun,” Appleby said of the new role. “I mean I always thought I was kinda more of a defensive player than offensive. I was never really like a true quarterback at Middletown and I’m just glad [Steel-High] is utilizing me as best as they can. It’s just really fun to go out there and play with them.”
The Rollers (4-0, 5-1) certainly had a fun Saturday afternoon in a 71-20 victory over Mid-Penn Capital division-mate Camp Hill at War Veterans Memorial Stadium, which featured a snazzy new scoreboard for the first time in Steelton.
The 6-1, 175-pounder’s most valuable asset has always arguably been in the defensive secondary, which he played at Middletown and proved Saturday with three interceptions.
One would think he’d see a lot of time as a DB wherever he decides to play next season as Appleby holds offers from Lebanon Valley, Misericordia, and Ursinus.
Steel-High didn’t take long to start rolling as Erby hit Tylishaun Parker for a 34-yard shuffle-pass score off a jet sweep to make it 7-0 just 1:01 into the game. Erby then hit Durrell Ceasar Jr. for a 25-yard screen-pass TD with 6:02 left. Appleby then got his first pick and returned it 22 yards for a score and the Rollers were up 21-0 with 4:19 left.
The Lions (1-2, 5-2) showed life when Drew Branstetter hit Mike Shartle on an out route for a 1-yard score with 28 seconds left in the first.
But Erby put more points on the board, this time with his legs from 13 yards out to make it 27-6 with 9:33 left in the second quarter.
“I’ve been running outside all summer long. That’s one part of my game that I improved,” Erby said on his rushing.
Erby then hit Taevon Legrande for a 10-yard TD with 3:22 left before halftime bringing his first-half touchdown total to four.
The high-profile QB was wearing a Penn State headband after the game.
“It’s a little something,” he said. “It’s a little gift from (former Steel-High and Central Dauphin East standout and current Penn Stater) Mehki Flowers. But they’re one of my top schools right now and recruit me real heavy. I just got off the phone with their OC last night.
“Duke’s still at the top, Maryland, the list goes on. I still got to take a bunch of visits next fall so I’m just beyond blessed to be in this position.”
Back to Saturday, Branstetter again threw a 1-yarder for a TD, this time to Noah Doi, to again give Lion’s life at 35-14 with 1:34 left in the first half.
Parker responded with a 40-yard scamper for the Rollers just 37 seconds later.
Appleby then picked off Branstetter on the first drive of the third and Erby threw a 22-yard TD to Asa Kochvar 48 seconds into the quarter.
Appleby got his third pick of the game on the next drive and Andrew Erby Jr., the 6-4, 275-pound lineman, finished a 59-yard drive with a 1-yard pounder to extend the lead to 56-14 with 6:54 left in the third.
Erby hit Ceasar Jr., who finished with 119 receiving yards, for his second TD from 41 yards away 3:24 later and the quarter ended with Steel-High ahead 63-14.
Drayton Saunders then picked off Hayden Ziegler for a 25-yard pick-six for the Rollers and Talan Foster scored on a 10-yard run for the Lions in the fourth.
The Rollers are now tied for the division lead at 4-0 with West Perry, who looms as the final game of the season. They’ll face winless Mid-Penn Liberty member Newport and then Capital foe Trinity (3-1, 4-3) first.
“I mean that’s obviously a game that we look up to,” Erby said of the West Perry game. “But we still got a tough road ahead of us. We still have to go to Trinity and Newport. We just got to take one game at a time.”
“We’re gonna keep coming out every hour of practice and just put in the work,” Appleby said. “It’s great energy every practice, great film sessions. We’re just ready to go.”
STATS:
Steelton-Highspire
Passing: Erby 16-22-0–270 (5 TDs).
Rushing: Perry 8-79, Parker 6-77 (TD), Erby 2-14 (TD), Evans III 2-9, McCraw 2-7, Martin 2-4, Appleby 4-1, Erby Jr. 1-1 (TD), Y. Ceasar 3-(-1).
Receiving: D. Ceasar Jr. 6-119 (2 TDs), Martin 3-41 (TD), McCraw 3-35, Parker 1-34 (TD), Perry 1-16, Appleby 1-15, Legrande 1-10 (TD).
Penalty: 9-82
Punt-avg: 0-0.
First downs: 15.
Fumbles-lost: 3-1.
Camp Hill
Passing: Bransetter 15-29-3–223 (2 TDs), Ziegler 1-2-1–9, Doi 0-1-0–0.
Rushing: Serdar 4-27, Foster 5-14 (TD), Moore 5-1, Becker 1-(-2), Ziegler 1-(-7), Doi 4-(-12), Branstetter 6-(-30).
Receiving: Corbin 4-77, Moore 3-45, Long 2-76, Becker 2-16, Doi 2-8 (TD), Stauffer 1-9, Shartle 1-1 (TD), Serdar 1-0.
Penalties: 4-35.
Punt-avg: 1-26.
First downs: 11.
Fumbles-lost: 1-1.
Scoring Summary
Steelton-Highspire (4-0, 5-1) 21 21 21 8 – 71
Camp Hill (1-2, 5-2) 6 8 0 6 – 20
1st Quarter
SH-Parker 34 pass from Erby (Hernandez kick) – 10:59
SH-Ceasar Jr. 25 pass from Erby (Hernandez kick) – 6:02
SH-Appleby 22 interception return (Hernandez kick) – 4:19
CH-Shartle 1 pass from Branstetter (Ellis kick blocked) – 0:28
2nd Quarter
SH-Erby 13 run (Hernandez kick blocked) – 9:33
SH-Legrande 10 pass from Erby (Appleby run) – 3:22
CH-Doi 1 pass from Branstetter (Moore run) – 1:34
SH-Parker 40 run (Hernandez kick) – 0:57
3rd Quarter
SH-Kochvar 22 pass from Erby (Hernandez kick) – 11:12
SH-Erby Jr. 1 run (Hernandez kick) – 6:54
SH-Ceasar Jr. 41 pass from Erby (Hernandez kick) – 3:30
4th Quarter
SH-Saunders 25 interception return (Y. Ceasar pass to Jackson) – 9:34
CH-Foster 10 run (Ziegler pass failed) – 5:16
