Avonworth displays balanced offensive attack in Allegheny Conference win over Apollo-Ridge

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 11:51 PM

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Avonworth’s balanced offensive attack was on display Friday night as the Antelopes ran and threw their way to a 42-6 Class 2A Allegheny Conference victory over Apollo-Ridge at Owens Field.

Quarterback Derek Johncour completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards and two scores, and Jax Miller added 121 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries as Avonworth improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

“(Apollo-Ridge) coach (John) Skiba does a great job with that team, and they had a nice defensive scheme for us,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said.

“They defended the pass really well and picked off two passes. Derek had only thrown two interceptions in the first four games. When they defended the pass, it opened up the run game for Jax, and he had a really nice game running the ball.”

Avonworth, which finished with 191 rushing yards as a team, led 27-0 at halftime and answered Apollo-Ridge’s touchdown in the third quarter with two more scores to put the mercy rule running clock into effect early in the final stanza.

With thunderstorms in the forecast, game officials decided to move kickoff to 6 p.m. The decision was a good one as wind and rain inundated Owens Field as the final seconds ticked off the clock, and the teams hurried to their respective locker rooms.

Johncour’s TD passes went to Grau and Drew Harper. Grau finished with six catches for 58 yards, and he added a 13-yard touchdown run in the first half.

Ethan Syam added three catches for 73 yards for the Antelopes.

Vikings quarterback Klay Fitzroy finished with 98 passing yards, and he connected with Keighton Reese for a 7-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

“We knew what they had coming back with Johncour, Grau and Miller, and they have some really talented guys around that,” Skiba said. “They’re thick up front, too. They have balance, and we knew we were up against a strong offense. But our guys never quit. We could’ve laid down in the second half, but we didn’t. We kept battling, and I am proud of them for that.”

Apollo-Ridge starting running back and linebacker Logan Harmon was unable to play because of injury. Skiba said the team is taking a safe and cautious approach to his return.

A thumb injury limited Jake Fello, normally at quarterback, to a role at wide receiver.

Avonworth’s first drive of the game ended in a turnover as Apollo-Ridge’s Zach Hreha intercepted Johncour at the Vikings 41.

But Apollo-Ridge was not able to move the ball and had to punt. Grau returned the kick 55 yards to the Vikings 18. Three plays later, Miller ran it in from 8 yards out, and Avonworth led 7-0 with 4 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

A short punt of 16 yards gave the Antelopes the ball back at the Apollo-Ridge 22. Grau capped a brief three-play drive with his scoring run to extend the advantage.

Miller’s second running TD, this one from 1 yard at the 10:53 mark of the second quarter, put Avonworth up 21-0.

Apollo-Ridge struggled early offensively but was able to engineer a long drive in the latter stages of the second. The march, which covered 13 plays, started at the Vikings’ 30 and moved inside the Avonworth 20 before stalling.

A 31-yard field goal attempt by Gavin Cole with 33 seconds left had plenty of leg but sailed wide left.

Johncour and the Antelopes offense took over and moved quickly into Apollo-Ridge territory. Johncour found a wide open Grau for a 36-yard score on the final play of the half.

“We were able to take what Apollo-Ridge gave us and moved the ball,” coach Johncour said. “We misfired here and there, but we got the job done when it counted. I thought the defense played well, too.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-388-5825, mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Avonworth