Apollo-Ridge aims to gain experience in a hurry

By: Michael Love
Thursday, August 17, 2023 | 8:59 PM

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When asked to appraise his team’s expectations for this season, Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba didn’t pull any punches.

“We will be young and inexperienced,” he said.

But he was quick to add that the future is bright as several talented newcomers, he said, will join the few returning starters from last year to form a group hungry to improve and remain in contention for one of the playoff spots from the Class 2A Allegheny Conference.

“There is a little bit of experience back, but not a ton,” Skiba said. “There are a lot of kids excited about opportunities because they get a chance to be leaders. They have been a part of some really good teams, but as a senior class of only five kids, it is an interesting mix. We will be built with a pretty young core. We had a couple of players get time on the field last year as freshmen and they are further along than what they probably should be.

“Overall, we have a good group of kids that have been in our system long enough to understand they have that chance to contribute and make a difference.”

Four starters are back on offense and four return on defense.

One key returnee is under center and in the secondary as senior Karter Schrock is healthy after missing all but two games last year because of injury.

In one game and a small part of another, Schrock completed 8 of 12 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns and added 17 carries for 172 yards. Defensively, he made seven tackles and caused and recovered a fumble.

“He’s probably the most excited kid out there because of what he lost last year,” Skiba said.

“He was playing so well right before he got hurt. I am still sick over that one. With him healthy, you wonder how much better could we have been. Now, he has that opportunity to go out and show you. He’s put on weight. He’s 200 and some pounds now. He’s thick. He’s strong. He’s become that leader. He hasn’t had all that much time under center because even in his sophomore year, he got dinged up and missed a number of weeks. He’s shown that he can be a strong and physical presence. He is taking nothing for granted.”

Skiba said Schrock most likely will be viewed as a defensive player in college, and he’s garnered interest at the Division II level.

Alex Wurmb, a senior, complemented graduate Nick Curci, now a freshman at Duquesne, with 20 carries for 187 yards and three scores. He added seven catches for 62 yards and made 28 tackles and picked off a pass from his defensive back position.

“Alex has had a very nice offseason. He put the time in,” Skiba said. “He’s one of the most experienced guys simply because he’s played so much. He’s a guy we don’t have to talk a lot to because he is so knowledgeable about what we are doing. He’s a really versatile player for us. He will be counted on to step up and be that leader we need.”

Senior offensive guard and defensive tackle Spencer Sells is an anchor in the trenches for the Vikings.

He earned Allegheny Conference first-team selection last year along the offensive line.

“The biggest thing for him is that he understands so much, and that is important as he will be surrounded by so many young guys who haven’t played a lot but have talent and are ready to learn,” Skiba said.

“He’s so good at mentoring kids and being a leader they can gravitate to an ask questions. He loves football and just doesn’t miss a day. He’s such a competitor.”

Skiba said sophomore tackle Connor Bogdanski (6-foot-5, 326 pounds) and junior running back and inside linebacker Corey Mackintosh are ready to step up into bigger roles this year. Sophomore Avery Grant also is expected to get touches at running back.

Senior newcomer Jacob Pryor played football in junior high and also devotes a lot of time to ice hockey.

“Friends of his talked him into coming out for the team,” Skiba said. “He’s very skilled. He’s going to play some tight end and some inside ‘backer. He’s a thick body and is used to the contact from hockey.”

Steel Valley ran through the Allegheny Conference last year en route to the conference title and then went on to claim WPIAL gold with a 20-point win over Beaver Falls.

Ligonier Valley, Serra Catholic and Burrell also were playoff qualifiers from the conference. Apollo-Ridge beat Burrell, 28-14, in the conference finale last year to secure its spot in the postseason.

“We are a very talented conference, top to bottom,” Skiba said. “People sometimes don’t understand how good it is. Steel Valley is loaded again. Imani is loaded, and they have the quarterback with the Penn State offer. Serra always has talent, and Ligonier Valley is a juggernaut of kids who are tough and physical. Yough is getting better. Derry was young last year. Burrell is always going to be right there. Shawn (Liotta) always does a nice job coaching them up.”

Apollo-Ridge kicks off its season Friday with its annual rivalry game against Leechburg. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Leechburg’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Nonconference games at Valley and home with Deer Lakes precede the conference opener at Ligonier Valley on Sept. 15.

“We have to find our way early and get a couple wins to give us confidence because the conference is going to be a meat-grinder,” Skiba said.

Editor’s note: Due to a production scheduling conflict, the preview for Allegheny Conference team Serra Catholic will appear later this month.

Apollo-Ridge

Coach: John Skiba

2022 record: 6-5, 4-3 in Class 2A Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 232-289-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Leechburg, 7

9.1 at Valley, 7

9.8 Deer Lakes, 7

9.15 at Ligonier Valley*, 7

9.22 Derry*, 7

9.29 Steel Valley*, 7

10.6 at Imani Christian*, 7

10.13 Yough*, 7

10.20 at Serra Catholic*, 7

10.27 Burrell*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Gage Johnston*

59-139, 983 yards, 7 TDs

Rushing: Nick Curci*

235-1,571 yards, 22 TDs

Receiving: Jake Mull*

36-863 yards, 8 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Apollo-Ridge was pretty even with its opponents last year with 290 points for against 296 points against.

• The Vikings qualified for the WPIAL playoffs in 2022 for the third time in four seasons.

• The Apollo-Ridge running game led the way last year with 2,414 total yards and 30 touchdowns. The passing game collected 1,160 yards and nine more scores.

• Junior linebacker Corey Mackintosh led this year’s returning players in tackles last year with 30. The top six in tackles moved on because of graduation.

ROSTER

No., Name, Cl.

1, Alex Clawson, So.

2, Alex Wurmb, Sr.

3, Logan Bianco, Sr.

4, Richard Peach, So.

5, David Cochran, Jr.

6, Taye Bradshaw, Fr.

7, Gabe Suman, Jr.

8, Karter Schrock, Sr.

9, Corey Mackintosh, Jr.

10, Avery Grant, So.

12, Logen Schrock, Fr.

14, Austin Gregory, Fr.

17, Gage Wingard, Fr.

20, Jaden McCray, So.

21, Jacob Pryor, Sr.

24, Zac Myers, Fr.

25, Hayden Johns, Jr.

27, Anthony Massari, Fr.

29, Beck Andree, Fr.

32, Seth Mahaffey, Jr.

33, Calvin Rodnicki, So.

35, Mason Deyarmin, Fr.

50, Damon Harkleroad, So.

51, Mason Crawford, Jr.

52, Parker Gourely, Fr.

53, Gino McCullough, Fr.

54, Kingston Staley, Fr.

55, Ethan Mackintosh, So.

56, Spencer Sells, Sr.

59, Josh McKendree, So.

64, Jason Piscarck, Fr.

70, Caleb Pierce, Fr.

71, Tyler Bartell, Jr.

72, Landon Sadler, Fr.

75, Jaxon Reed, Fr.

76, Connor Bogdanski, So.

77, Ryan Lydon, Jr.

79, Andrew Patterson, Fr.

81, Charles Frain, So.

82, Will Shank, Fr.

86, Nathan Fryer, So.

88, Blaize Carlson, Fr.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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