APOLLO RIDGE SENIORS ASSERT THEIR DOMINANCE IN BLOWOUT OVER BURRELL
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News
Alex Fydryszewski | September 26, 2020
We learned last week that Apollo Ridge could finish a young team when it handled Freeport in the 2nd half. We learned tonight that Apollo Ridge can come out fast, put its foot on the gas and go for the jugular to put a game away early. The senior laden Vikings stretched their passing game out this week after focusing on a run-heavy approach behind Logan Harmon and Nick Curci last week and it was Senior quarterback Jake Fello’s time to shine, as he showcased his arm to the tune of 5 touchdown passes en route to a 56-8 victory.
Apollo Ridge began the game with a drive that stalled inside the Burrell 40, forcing a punt. Burrell’s first drive produced a conversion on 3rd and 1 by senior quarterback Alex Arledge, but a subsequent 3rd and 1 run by bruising junior running back Caden DiCaprio was stuffed by Apollo Ridge’s senior leader Logan Harmon. QB Alex Arledge forged his way into the pile on fourth down to continue the drive. The next play, Dom Reiter made a diving interception on Arledge’s pass which gave the Vikings possession just inside Burrell territory. After a 24 yard gain from Nick Curci, Apollo Ridge’s Mister Everything, Logan Harmon, took it to the house from 20 yards out to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 5:24 to go in the first.
Burrell took another drive that stalled inside AR territory. Logan Harmon powered for 12 yards on first down out to the 43 of AR. On the next play, Jake Fello aired it out to Klay Fitzroy, who went up and shook off a defender to make the catch, stiff armed the safety and turned on the jets for a 57 yard TD pass to put Ridge up 14-0 with 1:38 to go in the first.
Burrell went 3 and out on their next drive, giving Apollo Ridge the ball back with time to go in the first quarter. Fello completed to Fitzroy for a gain of 6 to end the quarter with Ridge in commanding position, up 14-0.
The A-R drive stalled to start the second quarter, forcing a punt. Keighton Reese delivered a fantastic end over end punt that got a favorable bounce and went out at the Burrell 15. Burrell was able to move the sticks once before having to punt back to A-R. Fitzroy fielded a bouncing punt and “went backwards to go forwards” as he chugged a 40 yard half moon to gain 20 after fielding the punt. A pass from Fello to Fitzroy on the sideline moved the sticks. After a run by Harmon and Curci, Fello hit Fitzroy for another 15 yard gain, as he passed the 100 yards receiving mark in the 2nd quarter. The duo connected again for paydirt to extend AR’s lead to 21-0 with 5:14 to go in the 2nd.
Burrell began to mount a drive of its own late in the second and was able to get down to the 35 and were aided by an offsides on 4th down. A Caden DiCaprio carry later and Burrell had a fresh set with 3:00 to go in the half. Burrell burned up their downs and on 4th Arledge pass to Corrado fell incomplete, giving A-R the ball back with 2:23 to go in the 2nd.
The Vikings took over and Jake Fello completed passes to Nick Curci(for 25), Klay Fitzroy(10 and 11), Curci(23) before finally having one fall incomplete at the feet of Reese. Fello hit a wide open Curci 3 plays later for a 9 yard TD pass to up the score to 28-0 with 21.8 to go in the 2nd.
Burrell came out 3 and out and Apollo Ridge took over after a partially blocked punt by Curci that got a friendly roll. Reese gained 16 tough ones on first down to bring the Vikings near midfield. After a 26 yard pass to Klay Fitzroy, Fello hit Reese for an 11 yard TD pass to make it 35-0 and bring on running time with 9:48 to go in the 3rd.
A short kick was recovered by Apollo Ridge, giving them the ball back immediately. Ridge went three and out after two runs and an incomplete pass. After a Burrell 3 and out, Apollo went back to work in the passing game. A completion to Reese and a 41 yard rifle to Fitzroy made it 42-0 with about a minute to play in the third.
Apollo Ridge emptied its bench and got its freshmen and sophomores a full quarter of varsity time. Early in the fourth, DiCaprio tore off a 44 yard run to the left side that saw him find paydirt untouched to put Burrell on the board, and the two point conversion was good to make it 42-8 with 9:05 to go in the game.
Freshman QB Carter Schrock, the heir apparent to Fello, drove his team down the field. After a pair of carries by junior Matthew Clark, Schrock kept the ball 3 times for nearly 50 yards and found paydirt, stretching his legs in the process, making it 49-8 with 5:00 to go in the game.
On Burrell’s ensuing drive, freshman DB Alex Wurmb read a pass and went Pick 6 to the house from 25 out to make it 56-8 with 4:03 to go.
That would cap a fantastic night for Apollo Ridge in front of a friendly crowd at home as they improved to 3-0. They’ll have a bye week as Summit Academy did not field a team, and then regroup to face Shady Side Academy on October 9th. A matchup a week later with Serra Catholic could well be one that fans and media are salivating for.
It’s been a dominant stretch thusfar for Apollo, having defeated a traditional D6 contender in Lingonier Valley 44-7, Freeport 48-14 and Burrell tonight 56-8.
I asked Coach Skiba what he thought about their ability to finish a game last week in the second half, but to be able to start fast tonight as well, and what that means and his response led to believe that this already solid season can only get better: “I think the scary part is we are still messing things up. I lose my mind a lot of times because we still mess up little things here and there.”
The road does not get easier for Burrell, as they travel to North Catholic next week, but then they will face winnable games against run-heavy teams.
STATS
APOLLO RIDGE
Passing
Jake Fello 16-25-293- 5TD
Receiving
Klay Fitzroy 10-209-3TD
Nick Curci 4-57-1TD
Keighton Reese 3-35-1TD
Rushing
Logan Harmon 10-58-1TD
Klay Fitzroy 1-1
Nick Curci 2-22
Jake Fello 2- (-4)
Keighton Reese 4-32
Carter Schrock 3-46-1 TD
Logan Bianco 1-6
BURRELL
Passing
Alex Arledge 11-28-167-0TD-2 INT
Receiving
Justin Ulizio 2-5
AJ Corrado 8-156
Caden DiCaprio 1-6
Rushing
Ian Durici 1-3
Caden DiCaprio 18-78-1 TD
Alex Arledge 5-0
Caden Garner 2(-6)
Devin Beattie 2-1
Chase Fenner 1-5
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