Freeport/Apollo-Ridge football game canceled because of covid, quarantines

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 | 1:34 PM

The Freeport and Apollo-Ridge football teams will not play their Week 3 nonconference varsity game Friday at Owens Field in Apollo or Saturday’s junior varsity game at Freeport.

Apollo-Ridge athletic director Ray Bartha confirmed Wednesday that a number of Vikings football players are in quarantine out of “an abundance of caution.”

He said that some players are able to practice, but the ability to properly field a team to compete Friday against the Yellowjackets is not possible.

The football games Friday and Saturday vs Freeport are canceled due to a number of COVID cases, quarantines, and guidance from the department of health.

— Apollo-Ridge (@ApolloRidge) September 15, 2021

Superintendent Matthew Curci said Thursday morning that a combination of factors, in addition to the covid-19 case, led to the cancellations.

“While there is only one active positive case on the team, there are several players who are quarantined due to close contact with other positive cases inside or outside of school or are injured,” he said. “I apologize I do not have the exact numbers on hand, but basically as a small team with a limited roster we could not safely field a group that is capable of playing all of the required positions at this time.

“I know our players, coaches, and school community is very sad not to be able to play this game, as we value and respect our tradition with playing Freeport.”

Curci said officials are hoping the varsity season can resume Sept. 24 with its scheduled game against Burrell.

Bartha said Apollo-Ridge (0-3 overall) hopes to be in a position to return to action Sept. 24 at Burrell.

Freeport (2-1 overall) will kick off Class 3A Allegheny Seven Conference play at home Sept. 24 against Derry.

Athletic director Shawn Stivenson said that a quick search of teams in the region was done to see if there were any openings to fill the sudden void, but the search came up empty.

Staff writer Paul Peirce contributed. Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael by email at mlove@triblive.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.

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.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Freeport