Michael Curry, who is headed to Johns Hopkins University in the fall, is one of seven Allentown High School players selected for the Sunshine Football Classic all-star game July 1 at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). But he will root for his six teammates selected for the game from the sidelines as he completes his recovery from surgery in February to the right shoulder of his throwing arm.
“I’m 90 percent there,” Curry said of his recovery. “I feel fine right now. I’ve been lifting [weights]. I go three days a week to rehab. I’ll definitely play this fall. I’m not limited at all and can play right now.”
But Curry would rather not jeopardize his long road back and will spend the next month making sure everything is complete in his recovery.
Curry said he received the standard workout program from Johns Hopkins that goes to all incoming players and has been able to do most of the tasks, avoiding a few things that involve his right shoulder and arm.
“I’ve gone on the program everybody gets and just let my doctor tell me what I can do,” he said.
Curry, a leading figure in Allentown’s surge to its first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship game, suffered his injury in a 25-18 semifinals victory over Central Regional High School when his arm was pulled back while trying to make a tackle playing on defense. Curry returned the following week to play in the 42-35 championship game loss in overtime to Delsea Regional High School Dec. 6 at Rowan University. In the game, Curry passed for 131 yards and rushed for 150 in his final high school game, although he said he had to fight through some feelings of discomfort. He finished his season with 1,475 rushing yards and 1,169 passing yards.
Dean Apostolico, who scored two touchdowns in that final game and rushed for 799 yards on the season, will play in the Sunshine Classic on the TCNJ field where he will be spending his college career. Three of the other five Allentown players selected for the game also are heading to college, including Kevin Locke, who is going to Monmouth University; running back Jake Alessi, who is going to Salisbury University; and David Krieg, who is going to Pace University. Kicker and punter Matt DeRisi and Jake Morse also will play in the game.
Coach Jay Graber said the seven players selected is the usual compliment for Allentown.
“They all deserved it. They worked hard to make this game and to get us to the season we had,” Graber said.
“It’s really honorable to be among the seven guys selected for the game,” Curry said. “It’s really special, and they do a great job setting it up.” Although 12 players graduated, Curry said the future looks bright with the whole offensive line returning, which includes Ian Grant, Drew Whalen, Matt Schreck, Joe Pritchard, Taylor Campbell and Ryan Huth all sharing in a lot of playing time. All will be seniors in the fall, except for Huth, who will be a junior.
Also returning are running back Jordan Winston, who rushed for 635 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns, and wide receiver Brett Masci. Both will be seniors.
“We’re losing good players, but we have good underclassmen stepping up and they may be faster in the [40-yard dash] than we were,” Curry said.
Also returning for next season on defense are Ricky Mottram, who was the second leading tackler on the team at linebacker, Makelli Quinones at nose tackle and Tristan Millett and Winston in the secondary. All will be seniors except for Mottram (junior).
“We’ll look to be more crisp on offense and tougher on defense,” Graber said.
Allentown to play Archbishop Wood
Graber also is preparing for another interesting season-opener. Two years ago, the Redbirds traveled to the Xfinity Games in Utah, losing, 44-7, to Alta High School of Sandy, Utah.
This year, Allentown plays closer to home when it travels to Warminster, Pennsylvania, to play at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 against Archbishop Wood High School, a powerhouse in the Philadelphia AAA Catholic League. Archbishop Wood was 14-1 last year and won the last two PIAA state championships and three in the last four seasons. It has had double-digit victories the last seven seasons in a row.
Allentown and Steinert High School were granted a request by the West Jersey Football League to opt out of their scheduled Oct. 2 league game against each other to play Philadelphia-area non-public opponents. Steinert, which agreed to the move with Allentown, will host Bishop McDevitt High School from Wyncote, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26.
“It was our idea. It was an opportunity to play against Archbishop Wood, which is an extremely good team and reputable. The challenge was out there,” Graber said.
As for Allentown and Steinert opting out of that game, Graber said, “There was nothing behind it other than that it is an out-ofdivision team. We tried with another out-of-division team on our schedule, and they were unable to do it.”
Graber believes there is enough talent on his team to measure up in the game.
“Any time you have a chance to play a great team like that, you put the challenge to your players,” Graber said.
Allentown’s home-opener is the following game at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 against Notre Dame High School.
Allentown’s summer workouts among players began June 22.
Summer league basketball
Graber, meanwhile, also is working with his basketball team as varsity head coach, which is rebuilding after losing four starters to graduation, including Austin Moye, Xavier Roldan, Dan Bascara and Hal Shaw. The Redbirds travel to Jersey City this summer to play 20 scheduled games in the Hamilton Park League against local powerhouses St. Peter’s Preparatory School, Hudson Catholic Regional High School, Henry Snyder High School and Lincoln High School, as well as other area teams.
“We’re excited for the season,” Graber said, commending the players’ offseason commitment thus far. “They’re not playing as individuals; they pick each other up. We’ll work on playing tough defense and move the ball on offense to get good shots.”
Team play punctuated a balanced scoring attack last season when Allentown finished 16-10, losing in the state tournament to Nottingham High School, 54-47. In many games, three or four players were in doublefigures scoring for the Redbirds.
Back on the team are rising senior guards Millett, Hunter Gerling, Payton Jackson and Matt Blazier and rising junior guard Nahson Taylor, along with 6- foot-4 forwards Bekim Nikovic and Luke Newman, who are both entering their senior year.