DREXEL HILL, PA — Alex Erby likes to look back at the adversity he had to overcome. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior lefty Steelton-Highspire quarterback bound for Navy reflects on January 2021, when he dislocated his right knee that placed him in a leg stabilizer. He missed part of his freshman basketball and baseball seasons, and it tore into his preparation for his sophomore season in football.
He was on crutches for two months and was forced to rehab for an additional two months further. He gained about 30 pounds, too. He can look back and laugh at those moments, though he also grew from staring adversity in the eyes—and beating it.
This Alex Erby would not be who he is if that version of Alex Erby did not overcome that period in his young athletic life.
“I learned that you can be on the top of the mountain for a little bit and you can be humbled in no time,” Erby recalled. “We lost to Canton in the first round of the PIAA state playoffs my sophomore year. That was tough to take. I learned I have to keep working.”
On Sunday, Erby’s incredible career led to him being awarded the Maxwell Club’s prestigious Henry Award as the standout player in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
This past season, Erby won his third PIAA Class 1A state championship in four years, throwing five touchdowns and 340 yards in a 42-8 Steamrollers’ victory over District 7 champion Fort Cherry in the PIAA Class 1A state championship.
The Steamrollers won their 28th-straight game, and they will enter next season with the state’s longest winning streak.
Erby leaves as Pennsylvania’s all-time leading passing leader with career state-record 13,567 yards and 175 touchdowns. This season, he ended an amazing senior year in which he threw for 4,424 yards and 61 touchdown passes against four interceptions. Over his career, he completed 773 of 1,034 passes and this season completed 257 of 336.
He refers to the lessons learned his sophomore year after recovering from injury.
“The stats are great but I tell everyone the things I overcame is what put me here,” Erby said. “I learned to never compare yourself to another player. I compared myself to all these other prospects throughout the country, and I found out I should have not done that. I have to focus on what I’m doing. Never compare yourself to other players. Do what you can do.”
Andrew Erby, Steelton-Highspire coach, was tasked with keeping the Henry Award a secret from Alex and his wife.
He encouraged Alex to continue playing for the Steelton-Highspire basketball and baseball teams and was pleased why Alex did.
“Alex came up with all those kids on basketball and baseball teams, so he is playing for his friends and teammates,” Andrew said. “At a younger age, Alex and his twin, Andrew Jr., I exposed them to different sports. I always told my sons that it is not about them, it is about participating with their teammates.
“Alex is a great leader because he has always put his teammates first. His commitment to others is just as important as his individual commitment to himself. It’s why I’m appreciative of the way Alex carries himself. He will always get up and lead his teammates. And he likes playing those sports.”
Andrew and Alex had one bittersweet moment in December when the father coached their son for the last time. That marked their football goodbye. Late June, another goodbye awaits.
“Alex wants to keep rolling and another big goodbye is coming, and Andrew (Jr.) reports to Ohio in early June, so I’m letting my boys walk away,” Andrew Sr. said. “It will be tough. Getting the (Henry Award) is a great way for Alex to end his career. This is truly a blessing, showing Alex’s character in the classroom, and his commitment to the community and on the football field.
“He embraced challenges. He has younger people look up to him, and the football field is his love and passion. Our saying has always been this: Dominant players don’t need reminders to work hard. I was blessed with two sons who were committed to drive themselves.”
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall-of-fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito [twitter.com].
