VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • 23
Coach: John Skiba
2020 record: 6-1, 3-0 in
Class 2A Allegheny Conference
All-time record: 224-276-9
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 OLSH 7
9.3 at Avonworth 7
9.10 Greensburg Central Catholic 7
9.17 Freeport 7
9.24 at Burrell 7
10.1 Summit Academy* 7
10.9 at Shady Side Academy* 2:30
10.15 Serra Catholic* 7
10.22 Steel Valley* 7
10.29 at Ligonier Valley* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Jake Fello*
83-138, 1,230 yards, 15 TDs
Rushing Logan Harmon*
116-920 yards, 18 TDs
Receiving Klay Fitzroy*
41-694 yards, 6 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Skiba owns a record of
58-43 in nine seasons as
coach of the Vikings.
• Apollo-Ridge was balanced
last year with 1,245 passing
yards to 1,542 yards on the
ground.
• The Vikings are seeking
their third straight trip to the
WPIAL playoffs.
• Apollo-Ridge averaged
the second-most points in
Class 2A in 2020 at 43.7.
Serra Catholic was first at
44.7.
APOLLO-RIDGE EXCITED TO
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No. Name Cl.
2 Alex Wurmb So.
4 Angelo Cicco Sr.
5 Gage Johnston Jr.
6 Corbin Johnston Jr.
7 Gabe Suman Fr.
8 Karter Schrock Fr.
9 Colton Niel Sr.
12 Jacob Mull Jr.
14 Darek Baustert Jr.
17 Michael Fryer Jr.
20 Corey Mackintosh Fr.
21 Ryan Garrone Fr.
27 Evan Remaley Sr.
29 Logan Chapman So.
30 Logan Bianco So.
31 Nick Curci Jr.
32 Seth Mahaffey Fr.
33 Keyvahn McCray Sr.
35 Gavin Cole Sr.
40 Matt Clark Sr.
41 Landon Harmon Jr.
45 Luke Hura Jr.
47 Caiden Sekscinski Fr.
50 Mason Crawford Fr.
51 Cooper Gourley Jr.
52 James Stump Fr.
54 Tyler Jaworskyj Jr.
56 Austin Havens So.
57 Bradey Schrock Sr.
58 David Cochran Fr.
59 Greg Klingensmith Sr.
62 Andrew Booth Sr.
66 Michael Grant Jr.
71 Tyler Bartell Fr.
72 Connor Weigand Jr.
77 Ryan Lydon Fr.
78 Nate Simpson Jr.
ROSTER
Apollo-Ridge was an experienced
team in 2020. That experience
helped the Vikings navigate
the covid landscape and truncated
season to a 6-1 overall record and
a rout of perennial Class 2A contender
Washington in the WPIAL
playoffs.
Graduation took away many of
those main players — names such
as Jake Fello, Kyle Fitzroy, Keighton
Reese, Logan Harmon and Dom
Reiter. But as a new season dawns,
John Skiba, in his 10th season as
coach, is confident the returning
talent and younger players will
step up and help keep up the team’s
winning ways.
“This is a very tight-knit group
who wants to win together,” Skiba
said. “We were getting 30-plus a
day for workouts in the offseason.
Those were good things that I
know will help as the season gets
closer.”
Skiba said he expects the team to
again be competitive in the Allegheny
Conference against the likes
of Serra Catholic, Ligonier Valley
and Shady Side Academy.
Apollo-Ridge went 3-0 last year
in conference play. Serra was 2-0.
The head-to-head matchup was
canceled because of covid issues
at Serra. The same fate hit other
conference games, and the WPIAL
didn’t recognize a conference
champion.
“The atmosphere around the
team is very positive,” said senior
Nick Curci, who led the returning
players in rushing and receiving
last season. “Everyone is excited
to fill those roles on offense and
defense and get to work. Everyone
is working hard, and we’re looking
forward to a great season.”
Curci carried the ball 16 times
over six games and finished with
193 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
He also hauled in 12 passes
for 148 yards and two scores.
At linebacker, Curci made 30
stops, including a season-best six
in the Vikings’ playoff win over
Washington in the WPIAL first
round.
“I know my roles definitely
will increase, but the coaches haven’t
put any pressure on me,”
said Curci, who landed on the
all-conference first team at inside
linebacker.
“They just want me to work hard
and have fun playing football.
Coach Skiba is a great role model
who teaches us to make sure we are
taking care of business each day.”
Sophomore Karter Schrock is
set to take over under center. He
saw action in seven games last
year as a freshman but threw only
two passes.
He also will help form the heart
of the secondary at safety.
“He’s the guy, and I think he’s going
to get better and better as we go
along,” Skiba said. “He’s a student
of the game. He relishes the role of
being that starting quarterback.
We might move him around a little
bit on defense and put him in the
best position to make plays for us.”
Senior wideout Angelo Cicco,
Skiba said, also is expected to take
on a larger skill-position role. Skiba
is looking for big things from
juniors Gage and Corbin Johnson,
senior Colton Niel and junior
Landon Harmon.
“Hopefully, they will step up and
take advantage of their opportunities,”
Skiba said.
Experience is back in the trenches
on both sides of the ball. Three
returning starters on the offensive
line are left tackle Greg Klingensmith,
junior center Cooper
Gourley and senior tackle Bradey
Schrock.
“The linemen did a great job of
coming in and competing all offseason,”
Skiba said. “We took them
to different things, and they did a
great job. It’s a good mix of size,
speed and tenacity. They are going
to be a strength of what we have
coming for this year. We probably
will be leaning on them more than
we ever have in the past.”
Klingensmith, on the defensive
line, and Curci led the defensive
returnees in tackles last year.
Senior Gavin Cole provides stability
on special teams. He earned
all-conference kicking honors in
2020.
“We will be somewhat young
but are expected to continue to
compete,” Skiba said. “We have
players who might not have started
last year but did gain a lot of
experience at different roles.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
KARTER SCHROCK
APOLLO-RIDGE • ALLEGHENY