By John Knebels • Posted January 13, 2025

When it comes to experiencing the highs and lows of athletics, C.J. Miller could provide personal perspective.

Way back in February, the current Roman Catholic senior joined his ecstatic teammates after watching one of the greatest basketball games in Philadelphia Catholic League history.

Then, on Dec. 6, Miller dejectedly exited frigid Cumberland Valley High School following a brutally rugged loss to Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA Class 5A state football championship.

“Surreal moment both times,” said Miller. “Just two different types.”

In basketball, Roman Catholic trailed Archbishop Ryan by one point in the PCL championship at the Palestra as the final seconds of overtime withered away. But senior Gabe Goss raced up the court and, with a sold-out Palestra standing on its collective feet, drilled a game-winning jump shot at the buzzer and lifted the Cahillites to a 46-45 championship victory – the 34th in program history.

Fast forward to football.

Participating in its first-ever state final, Roman Catholic had erased an early deficit – aided tremendously by a 51-yard touchdown reception by Miller off a third quarter, fake-punt toss from senior Rayshawn Scott – and taken a 31-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

But McDevitt tied the game at 31-31 with 2:55 left in regulation, thus sending the contest into an extra session.

In overtime, Roman Catholic missed a field goal, and McDevitt responded by making their attempt – a line-drive kick that literally skimmed the crossbar – for a34-31 win.

Cahillite players and coaches were visibly crushed.

“It’s still heartbreaking,” said Miller. “We came so far and we played so hard just to come an inch short. Most people still couldn’t believe it and didn’t come to school for a bit. Everybody wanted that win so badly.”

Fortunately for athletes who participated in multiple sports, Miller immediately turned to basketball. Less than 24 hours after what he called the “worst” loss of his young life, Miller played in Roman Catholic’s season opener, a 46-28 non-league win over Sanford. Despite not having focused on hoops for several months – both physically and mentally – Miller tallied 15 points in the victory.

“I hadn’t picked up a basketball in a long time,” said Miller. “But I just went out there and played with energy and instinct.”

Miller downplayed his ability to somehow push aside a crushing football defeat and respond by helping his basketball teammates begin the season on a high note.

“It was difficult only because I couldn’t really practice with the basketball team or play in the preseason, and with football I was playing AAU some days during preseason,” said Miller, who has received football scholarship interest from several colleges. “On the other hand, I think it was pretty easy.

“Football helped me with basketball, being physical, and playing with confidence and even talking a little trash, which I don’t usually do. The benefits are just having two different ways to go to colleges. Football helped me get stronger, and basketball helped me get faster and quicker.”

The mercurial nature of success in athletics has supplied Miller with wisdom.

“I learned that anybody can make a difference or impact on the field,” he said. “It’s just about mindset. When I joined the (football) team this year after not playing last year, nobody thought I would do anything because I was a skinny basketball player, but I proved everybody wrong.

“I started out playing wide receiver and I didn’t see that much time, then I showed Coach (Rick) Prete some of my old film from freshman year at defensive end. After I made plays on defense, I stayed there and earned a starting spot.”

The dichotomy between Roman Catholic basketball and football allowed Miller an opportunity to help the former continue its legacy and the latter to forge some of its own.

While the basketball program – arguably the most historically successful body of excellence in any sport in the Philadelphia region – is nationally recognized, football still stands firmly behind nine-time state champion and perennial PCL champion St. Joseph’s Prep.

“Yeah, everyone knows about Roman Catholic basketball and the past players and we have a reputation and standard to make it to the Palestra every year, and we don’t really lose,” said Miller. “The football team, on the other hand, nobody really thought we were going to do as good as we did.”

They learned otherwise.

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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.