When asked what is getting the
Apollo-Ridge football team amped
up for the 2018 season, sophomores
Klay Fitzroy and Logan Harmon
pointed to the new classification
and, with it, new matchups.
The Vikings dropped from Class
3A to 2A in the offseason.
They again will take on familiar
conference foes Shady Side Academy
and Valley, who also dropped
to 2A. But the newAllegheny Conference
also features Avonworth,
East Allegheny, Steel Valley and
Summit Academy.
“We’re going to have tough
games every week, but we’re ready
for the challenge,” said Harmon,
who led the team in rushing with
618 yards and 10 touchdowns on
90 carries through nine games as
a freshman.
Harmon, who checks in at about
190 pounds, also led the team in
tackles with 68 and recovered a
fumble. He is part of a sophomore
class that numbers into the teens.
Included in that mix is Fitzroy,
a two-way starter at wide receiver
and defensive back, as well as
starting quarterback/defensive
back Jake Fello and wide receiver/
defensive back Keighton Reese.
“We came here (in the offseason)
and everybody worked together as
a family every day,” Harmon said.
“The coaches pushed us and got
us to where we need to be for the
season. Now, we just have to make
that hard work pay off.”
The Vikings are hoping to return
to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.
They finished last season 4-6
overall and 2-5 (sixth place) in the
Class 3A Allegheny Conference.
With 31 teams and four conferences
in 2A, the top four teams
in each conference will make the
WPIAL playoffs. The 2A title game
is set for Robert Morris the weekend
of Nov. 24.
Steel Valley finished runner-up
to Washington in Class 2A last
year, and East Allegheny and Avonworth
were quarterfinalists.
“We think this could be one of
the most skilled conferences in
2A,” Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba
said. “The top end of that is
loaded with a lot of talented skill
players. There are a lot of good
teams in this conference. We certainly
know what we’re going to
be up against.”
Skiba said he’s excited to see the
youth on the team take that next
step this fall.
“We’re fortunate because those
young kids did play so much football
last year,” Skiba said. “They
have matured, not only bodyand
frame-wise, but also in their
approach to the game and their
confidence. They, along with the
seniors and other older players,
really put a lot of time into what
they do.”
Fello saw action in nine games
last year, including five at quarterback.
He completed 24 of 52 passes
for 207 yards, one touchdown and
four interceptions.
Fello also rushed for 88 yards and
caught eight passes for 91 yards.
Defensively, he made 25 stops, intercepted
a pass and recovered
two fumbles.
Fitzroy competed with Fello for
the starting quarterback nod in
the offseason and had experience
there last season. He will be one
of Fello’s top receiving targets,
along with Reese and seniors Alex
Gamble and Brad Milko.
“We’re a lot more ready this
year,” Fitzroy said. “We grew up
with all that we faced last year.”
Reese, Gamble and Milko each
had a team-best two receiving
touchdowns last year.
Reese also finished second on
the team in tackles last year with
54. Gamble, also a defensive back,
added 39 stops.
Senior Jacob Clark, who recorded
35 tackles from his defensive
line position a year ago, is a twoway
linemanSkiba said will be key
to the team’s success this season.
Skiba also noted the return of
senior Kent Harkleroad, junior
Robby Harkleroad and senior Zack
Kostelansky as experienced players
in the trenches.
“They are pretty athletic kids
who can get out and move a little
bit, too,” Skiba said. “They’ve
worked their tails off. If they put
their nose on people and battle,
we’ll be all right.”
Skiba said his players understand
many will be playing on
both sides of the ball this season
and that good conditioning will
be crucial.
He said the team worked this
summer on rotating a lot of the
skill players on offense to make
sure they got breaks so they are
fresher on defense.
Apollo-Ridge again will play a
Week Zero game. The Vikings will
host Leechburg at 7 p.m. Friday.
“Playing that gameis a greatway
to get things moving and work out
some of the kinks, especially with
things like special teams,” Skiba
said. “On top of that, we’re playing
a neighbor and someone who used
to be a major rival. The fans are
always really excited about it, and
it should generate a great crowd
just as last year’s game did.
“Leechburg is an improved team
witha lot of good skill kids.Wesaw
them a little bit over the summer,
so we know we will be in for a
challenge.”
JACOB CLARK
TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 21
SCHEDULE
Coach: John Skiba
2017 record: 4-6, 2-5
All-time record: 209-263-9
Date Opponent Time
8.24 Leechburg 7
9.1 at Summit Academy* 12:30
9.7 at Carlynton 7
9.14 East Allegheny* 7
9.21 Avonworth* 7
9.29 at Shady Side Acad.* 2:30
10.5 Valley* 7
10.12 Steel Valley* 7
10.19 at Freedom 7:30
10.26 at Charleroi 7
*CLASS 2A ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Kyle Fitzroy*
46-82, 639 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing: Logan Harmon
90-618 yards, 10 TDs
Receiving: Klay Fitzroy
18-224 yards, 1 TD
*GRADUATED
A-R READY TO LEAN ON
TALENTED SOPHOMORES
by MICHAEL LOVE
KEIGHTON REESE
ALLEGHENY
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