Apollo-Ridge already knows what life is like without Duane Brown. The skilled running back and defensive back missed three games last season with a concussion.
The Vikings went 1-2 minus Brown but ran the table when he came back and blended back into the system, winning five straight and nearly clipping explosive Beaver Falls in the first round of the playoffs.
Brown had knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee in April and has been rehabbing as he tries to make it back early in the season.
His exact return in unknown.
Preparing to play without Brown has made the Vikings coaching staff sharpen its focus and widen its search for impact players.
“Like I always say we won't do anything that will put (Brown's) future in jeopardy,” Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba said. “It's impossible to replace Duane. ... He is a very special athlete. Everyone in our conference understands how special he is. If he's not able to make it back this season I know people will be cheated on seeing one of the best to ever play at Apollo-Ridge.”
Brown ran for 1,590 yards and 28 touchdowns last season and has been virtually unstoppable in various roles over the years, including quarterback, returner and defensive back — where he's been first-team all-conference three times.
“I know as soon as he told me what happened I had a team meeting to address the injury with the team and explained that we needed to understand what we were going to be missing from his injury and to put our focus on stepping up and moving forward,” Skiba said. “I read off his stats and what we would be replacing and when it sinks in its daunting, but we are Apollo-Ridge and we are used to doing things the hard way.”
New sets and formations are by-products of losing such an impact player, and that will be the case on offense and defense. Several players are in line to take Brown's carries, including sophomore Alex Gamble, senior fullback Brett Coleman and seniors Jeremy Dibernardo and Kane Kania.
Junior quarterback Kyle Fitzroy (6-4, 215) is ready to take control of the offense.
“I think he understands what we need out of him, and I am really enjoying watching him become a more complete quarterback,” Skiba said. “He's fun to coach.”
Senior Matt Sells is back to anchor the lines, at center and nose tackle.
“He's a lunch-pail kid,” Skiba said. “He comes to work every day and gets the job done.”
