Through the years: Apollo-Ridge’s Brian Newton made strong 1st impression

By: George Guido
Thursday, August 31, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Each Friday throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that have shaped local scholastic history.

In his first varsity start, Apollo-Ridge sophomore Brian Newton ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns to give the Vikings a 28-7 decision over Leechburg on Sept. 4, 1998.

75 years ago

• Halfback Jack Moses scored on runs of 20 and 47 yards and on a 14-yard pass from Carl Mazza to lift Arnold to a 19-12 victory over Leechburg.

• Tarentum quarterback Roy (The Rifle) Woods fired a 48-yard pass to Tony Kuniak for the game’s only score in the second quarter as the Redcats defeated Vandergrift, 6-0.

60 years ago

• Leechburg won its season opener for the first time in 10 years with a 19-7 decision at West Deer. Dennis Yajko ran for two Blue Devils touchdowns.

• Alan Cypher passed to right halfback Jim Salsgiver for a pair of Knoch touchdowns, leading the Knights to a 26-19 victory over Mars. Both schools were members of the Butler County League and not the WPIAL at the time.

50 years ago

• Springdale lost four fumbles and had two passes picked off by Richland in an 18-0 Rams victory. Ordinarily, the loss would have eliminated the Dynamos from WPIAL title consideration, but under the new rules, Springdale was still alive.

• Burrell’s Keith Beattie recovered a fumble early in the game, and a subsequent touchdown by Don Fastuca and a PAT by Tim Cavitt held up as the Bucs edged the Mustangs, 7-6.

40 years ago

• Deer Lakes quarterback Rick Stoneburner ran for a pair of touchdowns as the Lancers stopped Northgate, 21-7.

• Plum upset Franklin Regional, 27-6, behind junior Dave Strieter’s 70-yard touchdown and a 45-yard option pass to Scott Graboski.

25 years ago

• Highlands became the first area team to take advantage of the new “mercy rule” by routing Derry by a 41-0 score for the second consecutive season. The second half took just 32 minutes to complete.

10 years ago

• Nick Bowers scored five TDs as Kittanning belted East Allegheny, 56-39, in Allegheny Conference play.

• Valley’s defense recorded seven sacks, and Demetrius Houser ran for three touchdowns in a 26-0 Vikings victory over Burrell.

Five years ago

• Apollo-Ridge took advantage of four Summit Academy turnovers in a 21-0 victory. Logan Harmon recovered two fumbles, one at the Vikings 1, to preserve the shutout.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Highlands, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Springdale, Valley