Thu, Mar 18 2010
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Published November 26, 2009 05:52 am - GENEVA — Tyler Erb’s defining moment as a high school football player in 2009 may have come early in the Madison game when he connected with Geneva wide receiver Jimmy Haines for a long touchdown pass, then thwarted a Blue Streak comeback with an interception. Erb put spice in recipe for success Geneva’s standout quarterback heads Star Beacon’s All-Ashtabula County squad CHRIS LARICK Star Beacon A Chris Larick column...
GENEVA — Tyler Erb’s defining moment as a high school football player in 2009 may have come early in the Madison game when he connected with Geneva wide receiver Jimmy Haines for a long touchdown pass, then thwarted a Blue Streak comeback with an interception. Or it may have come at Riverside. After the Eagles had lost a lead in the fourth quarter thanks to mistakes, Erb suggested to Geneva coach Tony Hassett that the Eagles run the “blast counter boot” on fourth and 12. Erb faked a run up the middle, faked a counter, then hit Haines for the score that gave Geneva the lead for good. In what amounted to the Northeastern Conference championship game, Erb lifted the Eagles to a victory over Edgewood with a run from punt formation on fourth-and-nine that helped seal the deal. With the NEC championship a done deal, Erb and his long-time friend Haines came up with possibly the most impressive play of the season. An underdog Gilmour Academy team had the lead late in the game and forced Geneva into a fourth-and-22 situation. Erb suggested to Hassett that he throw a “fade” to Haines. “I said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Hassett said. “I could look at him and see he was going to get it done. (Gilmour)’s defensive end was right in Tyler’s face when he threw it. Jimmy was covered by two guys, but he blew right between them, caught the ball and left a couple of defenders pounding the turf. I’ve never been in a game like that, where we snatched victory from defeat.” “That was some play, a good way to end the season,” Erb said. “It was probably one of the most exciting games I’ve been in.” It was a huge play, that would have been even larger had the Eagles not already been eliminated from playoff competition despite their 8-2 record. What had to really hurt is that another victory would have clinched a spot and the one win they needed could have been almost in the bag had Geneva not allowed Harvey to cancel its scheduled game between the teams. As it was, the Eagles were forced to play Kenston, a strong Chagrin Valley Conference team. Still, after all of his heroics during the season, both offensively and defensively, Erb was a logical choice as Star Beacon Ashtabula County Player of the Year. After his selection, Erb admitted it was an honor he sought. “I saw other people get it at the (Ashtabula County Touchdown Club) meeting and wished I could get it,” Erb, the son of John and Christina Erb, said. “It still surprises you when you get it, though.” For the season, the 6-foot, 190-pound Erb completed 55 of 114 passes (48.2 percent) for 897 yards, averaging 16.3 yards per completion, and 10 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 105 times for 477 yards (4.5 average) with four touchdowns and a two-point conversion. He also had six interceptions, second in the county in that category. Erb is so polished as a defender that he was named Star Beacon Ashtabula County Defensive Back of the Year in 2008 and was named first-team all-district and honorable mention in the state. He is already first-team all-district as a quarterback this season with state honors pending. 
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