Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for Oct. 6, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, October 6, 2025 | 6:08 PM

Trib HSSN football team of the week – Apollo-Ridge Vikings

Coach: John Skiba (15th season)

Result: Apollo-Ridge 18, Steel Valley 14

Record: 3-0 in the 2A Allegheny Conference, 5-2 overall

#Earned: Following a one-win season in 2024, a 1-2 start may have felt like more of the same in 2025. But four victories in a row later, the feeling is a lot different and the mindset of trying to compete has given way to being part of the Class 2A Allegheny Conference championship discussion. Wins over Carlynton, Shady Side Academy and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart were nice, but the icing on the cake came in Week 6 with a homecoming victory over No. 4 Steel Valley. The game was a defensive battle through three quarters with the Ironmen leading heading into the fourth quarter, 7-3. Steel Valley extended the lead with a Da’Ron Barksdale 48-yard scoring run. However, instead of hanging their heads with a “we gave it our best” attitude, the Vikings stormed back with consecutive touchdown drives, the game-winning score coming with two seconds remaining as Apollo-Ridge stunned the Ironmen, 18-14.

Statistical standouts: Vikings quarterback Alex Clawson was the money man in the final quarter for Apollo-Ridge. The senior signal caller has picked up his game since being reinserted under center a few weeks ago. For the game against Steel Valley, Clawson hit on 17 of 25 of his passes for 183 yards and the two fourth-quarter scores. A 28-yard strike to Logan Schrock with the added two-point conversion on a Clawson run pulled Apollo-Ridge to within three points. On the final drive of the game and in field-goal position, Clawson found Zac Myers in the end zone with two seconds remaining to give the Vikings the near walk-off win. Clawson and Myers combined for 89 yards on the ground. For the season, the Vikings are tied for first in the Allegheny Conference with South Allegheny with a clash against the Gladiators coming up in Week 7. Clawson has thrown for 891 yards and six touchdowns while Myers has 271 yards on the ground in a balanced running attack.

Last year: Apollo-Ridge last made the playoffs in 2022. Coming off a 3-7 season in 2023, the Vikings struggled all season in 2024. The season started with a five-point loss to Leechburg in Week Zero and the team never really recovered. Losses in their first eight games included a 55-10 drubbing at Steel Valley and a loss at home to South Allegheny, 41-29. However, the season did end on a high note as Apollo-Ridge hit the road and defeated Ligonier Valley, 31-28, to close out a tough 1-8 season. Alex Clawson threw for 1,762 yards and 12 touchdowns, Logan Schrock was the team’s leading receiver with 26 receptions for 327 yards and Corey Mackintosh rushed for 508 yards for the Vikings.

Remember when: Five years ago, Apollo-Ridge enjoyed one of its best seasons in the covid-shortened season. The team finished the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record. The Vikings then defeated traditional power Washington at home in the Class 2A quarterfinals, 42-6, before falling to eventual champion Beaver Falls in the district semifinals, 50-27. The only other time Apollo-Ridge enjoyed an undefeated regular season was 25 years ago when it finished 9-0. The 2000 postseason, however, was quick and painful as the Vikings were upset in the opening round by visiting Steel Valley, 34-26.

Week 6 honorable mention

Upper St. Clair

The Panthers entered their Week 6 Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference fight against visiting South Fayette licking their paws following a heartbreaking loss to Peters Township in a battle of unbeatens and the conference opener a week earlier. It looked like a heavyweight bout in the first quarter with both teams throwing haymakers and Upper St. Clair leading South Fayette 16-14. But then it was all USC, which scored the final 40 points thanks to Ethan Hellman throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns and Dante Coury rushing for 98 yards and two scores as the Panthers mauled the Lions, 50-14.

Chartiers Valley

In what is becoming a very memorable season for Chartiers Valley, the Colts have become very good at clinching victories with successful two-point conversions. In Week 1, CV added a two-pointer after scoring a touchdown in overtime to beat West Allegheny. Then on Friday in a back-and-forth Class 4A Big Six Conference game against Belle Vernon, Colts quarterback Luke Miranda threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns, including a 12-yard strike to Owen Weagraff with 13 seconds left and the two-point conversion pass to Tayshaun Lewis for the game winner in a wild victory over the Leopards, 36-35.

Central Valley

Sometimes records can be deceiving. Central Valley lost its first three games to Class 4A powers Montour, Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon. However, it appears the Warriors have righted the ship with success in Class 3A Western Hills Conference play. CV improved to 3-1 and trails only unbeaten Avonworth after Ethan Shearer rushed for 188 yards and scored three touchdowns and quarterback Braddock Ambrose threw for 136 yards and a score as Central Valley handed North Catholic its first conference loss, 34-28.

Brentwood

Clairton and Leechburg have pulled away from the pack, but the pack remains tight for the final two or three playoff berths in the Class A Eastern Conference. Coming into Week 6, Riverview has a 2-1 conference mark while Brentwood, Jeannette, Greensburg Central Catholic and Frazier all had one win. Brentwood helped its cause while preventing Riverview from pulling away as Cedric Davis rushed for 200 yards and scored 5 TDs as the Spartans knocked off the Raiders, 27-14.

Trib HSSN teams of the week

Week 5 – Albert Gallatin Colonials

Week 4 – Aliquippa Quips

Week 3 – Avella Eagles

Week 2 – Southmoreland Scotties

Week 1 – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Tags: Apollo-Ridge