Getting Defensive
Union/A-C Valley’s football team benefited greatly from the defensive efforts of Skyler Roxbury and Bailey Crissman.
A pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference programs are hoping for the same.
Both seniors at Union High School, Roxbury will continue his academic and playing career at Westminster College while Crissman will do so at Grove City.
Union and A-C Valley joined forces in football in 2016 and the best team, by far, that the co-op has produced came in 2021 when the Falcon Knights went 9-3 and reached the District 9 Class A title game before falling to eventual state runner-up Redbank Valley.
“It feels good to be able to set the standard for future teams,” said Roxbury, a safety. “I believe the teams over the next few years will be as good, if not better, than we were.”
Over the last three seasons, Roxbury tallied 94 tackles and 14 interceptions, including eight thefts in 2021. He will be joining a Westminster defense coming off an incredible season. Last fall, the Titans were ranked first in the nation, regardless of division, in third-down efficiency (21.2 percent) and pass defense (102.3 yards per game).
“We were pretty dominant,” said Westminster head coach Scott Benzel. “With graduations, we’re a bit thin in the secondary and are looking to reload.”
Roxbury is part of that infusion of new defensive backs.
“He high-points the ball very well,” said Benzel. “His ability to go up and get the football, he does that as well as anybody we’re bringing in.”
Roxbury is anxious for the challenge that college football brings.
“I’m looking forward to getting better and learning more about the game,” he said.
Regarding Roxbury seeing playing time this fall, Benzel said: “We don’t want to rush (freshmen) onto the field, but we will play our best players.
“Skyler could see time on special teams and maybe some sub-packages on defense.”
Crissman played outside linebacker for the Falcon Knights, totaling a combined 111 tackles, three sacks and five fumble recoveries in the last three seasons.
“With his size (6-foot-7, 210 pounds) and ability, we’re excited to see Bailey compete on the defensive side as an outside linebacker who can come up on the line and blitz,” said GCC head coach Andrew DiDonato. “We talk a lot about whole person development — spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically. We believe Bailey is well-rounded in these areas.”
Crissman will be pulling double-duty at Grove City.
“I also looked at Thiel, but visited Grove City and just really liked the school,” he said. “I was looking to play football all along, but I’m also going to be playing baseball there, too. I’m a pitcher and first baseman.
“It was after my sophomore year that colleges started to look at me.”
Roxbury and Crissman are both residents of Rimersburg.
“We’ve hung out with each other for years,” said Roxbury. “We always wanted to play football at the next level and it’s awesome we’re both getting that opportunity.”
