Western Beaver freshman Amari Marshall didn’t expect to be a quarterback coming into the preseason.
But when the program lined up for its first night WPIAL Class 2A postseason game, Marshall was under the gun and ready to try and help the Golden Beavers make history.
No. 2 Western Beaver’s diverse offense made plenty of big plays, allowing them to jump on Apollo-Ridge, 41-14, to reach the semifinals.
“For me, I was really pumped because I’m a freshman and I just got into the game,” Marshall said. “I had to come out here and play for everyone else.”
Vikings coach John Skiba also was unsure of where their season would end. He didn’t necessarily expect to be coaching in the second round of the playoffs.
After a 1-2 start, Skiba was thrilled with where his program went from there. The Vikings (8-4) finished strong and upended Riverside in the first round.
“Believe me, if I thought you’d be asking me questions right now when we were 1-2, I’d be tickled pink,” Skiba said. “Our kids have battled all year and figured out how to play football at Apollo-Ridge. We put ourselves back on the map.”
Wyatt Sparbanie got the party started for Western Beaver (10-1). He scored on a 50-yard run on the first play from scrimmage.
Sparbanie finished with 107 rushing yards and scored three times.
Western Beaver coach Ron Busby said this is the type of performance he expects from the team.
“It was fantastic energy,” Busby said. “It was the same energy we’ve had all year.”
Apollo-Ridge nearly answered immediately. The Vikings followed Sparbanie’s opening touchdown with a methodical drive that reached the Western Beaver 11 after a 20-yard run from Zac Myers.
However, Apollo-Ridge’s momentum was undone on a mishandled snap that allowed the Golden Beavers to get the ball back.
“We controlled the ball and did some things I’m happy with,” Skiba said. “We kept doing stupid things and self-imposed wounds over and over again. They are explosive and we understand that, but we did some things to ourselves.”
Apollo-Ridge tied the score early in the second quarter when Anthony Massari recovered a fumble in the end zone. The Golden Beavers offense answered with two touchdown runs.
Sparbanie scored on runs of 2 and 6 yards to give Western Beaver a 21-7 lead at halftime.
“I didn’t really have to do as much,” Marshall said. “I know I can come to my guys, and they can run. We can move around and maneuver. It feels great instead of just me, Wyatt and Avon (Pressley).”
Alex Clawson led Apollo-Ridge by passing for 157 yards, but he was intercepted twice. John Schrock led the Vikings with 77 receiving yards. Jaden McCray scored Apollo-Ridge’s other touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Skiba said the turnovers hurt.
“It definitely did,” Skiba said. “That’s the thing. We haven’t done that to ourselves all year. We get into this situation, and we lose our minds.
Western Beaver is happy to be marching on. Marshall is excited to see what they do next. This season has been full of new experiences.
“I thought I was going to play wide receiver,” Marshall said. “I’m an athlete at the end of the day.”