Positive end to ’18 season serves as catalyst for Springdale
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019 | 9:51 AM
Springdale’s Demitri Fritch catches a pass between 7-on-7 games Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Freeport High School.
Springdale quarterback Legend Ausk throws a pass during a 7-on-7 game Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Freeport High School.
Springdale head coach Seth Napiekowski talks with quarterback Legend Ausk during a 7-on-7 game Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Freeport High School.
Springdale head coach Seth Napiekowski calls a play during a 7-on-7 game Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Freeport High School.
It might not seem like much on the surface, but Springdale’s Week 10 nonconference victory over Vincentian Academy has proven to be an offseason springboard.
The 35-13 victory gave the Dynamos just a 2-8 overall record, but it proved to be a positive end to a trying season.
“That was a huge boost for us,” coach Seth Napierkowski said. “We struggled throughout the year. To be able to come out with a win proved to be a huge boost toward our offseason.”
The third-year coach saw improvement over the final weeks of the season. With nine players returning on offense and 10 on defense, last year’s learning experience could bear fruit.
“We’re not going to have to do that much teaching,” Napierkowski said. “It’s refining what we already know. We found some things late last year that were successful for us, and we want it to carry over to this year.”
One offensive player who needs replaced is quarterback Josh Jones, who threw for 437 yards last season. His replacement appears to be sophomore Legend Ausk, who did well in summer camps.
“He’s had a really good summer for us, and he’s ready to fill those shoes,” Napierkowski said. “He performed well in scrimmages and seven-on-sevens against different teams. He didn’t get much varsity reps last year, so we have to get him as much experience as we can in practice and that first scrimmage.”
Also returning is senior running back Christian Vokes, who rushed for 377 yards and five touchdowns last season despite missing time to injury. He will be counted on for the bulk of the carries this season.
The Dynamos are expecting big things from sophomores Demitri Fritch and Logan Dexter at receiver.
Returning on the line will be senior guard Blake Sgambati, and center Gio Savko was an all-Eastern Conference honorable mention selection as a freshman. Springdale’s linemen started at least three games last season.
Senior Brandon Green returns after leading the Dynamos with 49 tackles.
Springdale will open Friday at home with neighboring Deer Lakes in a Week Zero game at Veterans Memorial Field. The Dynamos originally were scheduled to play Vincentian, but that school will not be fielding a team this season.
It will be the 900th game in Springdale’s football history.
Said Napierkowski: “We have played them since 1993, and we haven’t beaten them since ’80, so it’s exciting for both communities. I know coach (Tim) Burk was excited when he heard we had an opening. It’s going to be fun.”
Springdale plans on returning to a 4-4 defense this year after going with a three-man line last year because of lack of size.
“We had some guys who hit the weight room in the offseason getting bigger and stronger, so we have more down linemen,” said Napierkowski, a former Burrell and Carnegie Mellon quarterback. “We want to get back to hard-nosed, Springdale football.”
The Dynamos again will compete in the rugged Eastern Conference, where members have played in 20 of the past 39 WPIAL title games.
Springdale will have conference stalwarts Clairton, Jeannette and Imani Christian at home.
Schedule
Coach: Seth Napierkowski
2018 record: 2-8, 0-6
All-time record: 407-462-30
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23, Deer Lakes, 7
8.30, Imani Christian*, 7
9.6, Monessen, 7
9.14, at Bishop Canevin+, 7
9.20, Jeannette*, 7
9.27, at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7
10.4, Northgate, 7
10.11, at Riverview*, 7
10.18, Clairton*, 7
10.25, at Leechburg*, 7
*Class A Eastern Conference game
+At Dormont Stadium
Statistical leaders
Passing: Josh Jones*
49-116, 437 yards
Rushing: Jones*
103-416 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving: Demitri Fritch
24-207 yards
*Graduated
Springdale roster
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
1, Cavin Kindler, RB/LB, 5-10/165, Jr.
6, Matthew Haus, K/P, 6-0/180, Jr.
7, Zackary Conte, RB/DB, 5-6/140, Sr.
8, Brandon Green, RB/LB, 5-11/60, Sr.
10, Justin Botinovch, RB/DB, 5-6/155, Jr.
13, Logan Bayne, WR/LB, 6-2/150, Sr.
14, Legend Ausk, QB/DB, 6-1/160, So.
17, Christian Vokes, RB/DB, 5-8/150, Sr.
20, Demitri Fritch, WR/DB, 6-2/160, Jr.
21, Chris Savko, WR/DB, 5-8/145, So.
22, Logan Dexter, RB/DB, 6-2/165, So.
25, Noah Reed, RB/DB, 5-7/135, So.
29, Ashton Krebs, TE/LB, 5-10/165, So.
44, Andrew Harmon, TE/LB, 6-1/160, So.
52, Dakota Boyce, OL/DL, 5-11/210, Jr.
53, Gage Howard, OL/DL, 5-11/165, So.
57, Josh Kaminski, OL/DL, 5-7/175, So.
58, Ethan Zahner, OL/DL, 5-6/190, So.
61, Nathan Folmer, OL/DL, 5-10/230, Fr.
64, Alex Caldwell, OL/DL, 5-6/230, Jr.
70, Blake Sgambati, OL/DL, 5-9/240, Sr.
74, Gio Savko, OL/LB, 5-7/175, So.
77, Justin Dvorsak, OL/DL, 6-4/315, Sr.
78, Joe Rogers, OL/DL, 5-11/195, So.
80, John Utiss, WR/DB, 6-0/160, So.
82, Ricky Martinelli, WR/DB, 5-8/155, So.
83, Terry Leas, WR/DL, 6-4/170, Jr.
86, Sonny Yungwirth, WR/DB, 6-1/170, Sr.
88, Josh Lang, TE/DL, 5-10/150, Sr.
Tags: Springdale
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