The Championship Subdivision News Log

Springdale graduate Mike Landers butted heads a couple of times with Ian Milanak of Apollo-Ridge in high school football.

Now, along with Ford City’s Mark Szymanski, they have joined forces to put a shoulder into opposing offenses.

The local trio takes pride that they give area football a strong presence at a single Division I-FCS school. The juniors are defensive starters for Robert Morris, which is 1-0 after beating Morehead State, 27-13, last weekend.

“We have fun locker room fights with the kids from Florida about where the best high school football is,” Szymanski said. “We always represent Western Pennsylvania.”

And the Alle-Kiski Valley, in particular.

But Landers, Milanak and Szymanski hope to do more than just represent. They want to return Robert Morris to prominence in the Northeast Conference after the Colonials finished 4-6 last season.

With the common bond of coming from the same area, they have developed a good chemistry on the field.

“Milanak and I played against each other for two years,” Landers said. “We had a little rivalry going. We became friends quickly. He’s a hard-nosed kid, like Mark. Mark’s a big boy.”

Szymanski added: “It’s kind of nice starting with people from the same area. I didn’t know Milanak or Landers from high school, but now I’m good friends with them.”

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Szymanski is coming off an excellent season in which he established himself as one of the top defensive ends in the conference.

Last year, Szymanski led the Colonials with seven sacks, finished fourth on the team with 60 tackles and earned second team all-conference recognition. And he did all that with nagging injuries.

Landers, a 6-1, 210-pound safety, appeared in all 10 games last season and started the last five. He finished right behind Szymanski in fifth place on the team with 55 tackles. Landers also grabbed an interception and made three pass breakups.

The 5-11, 215-pound Milanak earned the first start of his career against Morehead State after playing mainly special teams the last two years.

Robert Morris will host Bucknell at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Colonials are looking forward to a conference matchup with rival Duquesne on Oct. 11 that will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh.

Kiski Area graduate James O’Quinn starts at wide receiver for Robert Morris. Freshman Troy Besterci of Plum is a reserve at cornerback.

“Coach (Joe) Walton always says it’s all about the locker room and having a good locker room,” Szymanski said. “I know the kids around me. I’m thinking this is our year.”

Area players boost Robert Morris defense
By Paul Kogut, The Valley News Dispatch (PA)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_587411.html