Springdale ready to show improvement after winless campaign

By: Michael Love
Sunday, August 20, 2023 | 9:53 PM

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The graduation of 16 seniors from Springdale’s 2021 Class A quarterfinal-qualifying team left a void from which it was tough to recover.

The 2022 Dynamos battled through youth and inexperience — only three seniors dotted the roster — and the season ended with the Dynamos at 0-10.

But many of the players who took their lumps while growing in the game are back, and second- year coach Ryan Tempalski said brighter days are on the horizon for a group hoping to return to relevancy in the Class A Eastern Conference and beyond.

“After we got through that initial part of the season against teams like Leechburg and GCC, who really put it to us, we started to play and get first downs and execute some plays. The players, parents, the staff, so many people could see we were improving. When the guys saw those improvements, it kept them coming back. They understood that it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing.

“We were scoring points against Riverview. We had an 11-minute drive against Frazier. Those things showed that we could move the ball. I also point to a play against GCC where we completed a slant, and Colton (Gent) took it to the house. One play led to two plays led to us moving the ball against Clairton a little bit. It all comes down to continuing to work and believe we can get better.”

Springdale’s closest games last year were against Summit (18-14) and Frazier (25-12).

Tempalski said he was impressed with the summer of work put in by the players.

“We had a tremendous summer compared to what we did last year,” he said. “We had the full offseason, and the players were hearing the same things from the coaches for the second year in a row. They built on a lot of things with repetition and understanding. Everyone is on the same page.”

Tempalski said key players such as seniors Chase Weihrauch and Noah Bradley and juniors Colton Gent and Garrett Myers are ready to make an impact as team leaders.

Weihrauch returns for his second season as the Dynamos starter at quarterback. He battled through an ankle injury in the early part of the season but recovered and got back in the lineup.

“With his development and getting past those injuries, you could see more and more good things from him and how he was able to spark the offense,” Tempalski said.

“We were completing some passes, and you could see the offense coming together. He looks tremendous right now. He is in position to do some really special things.”

Bradley, a senior running back and linebacker, earned all-star honors last year from the Valley News Dispatch as well as first-team defensive laurels from the conference coaches.

“Noah is such a unique character,” Tempalski said. “He is his own man in some ways. He is so charismatic. He loves football and loves to hit. He is built to be a linebacker. His talent and abilities in the middle on defense should make a big difference. You put him in there and tell him to seek the ball. He’s the ball hawk, him and Chase.”

Gent, a junior running back/defensive back, showed his ability to be a running and pass-catching threat for the offense last year and also make his mark in the secondary.

“He is very athletic and can do a lot of good things with that,” Tempalski said.

Tempalski said Garrett Myers, a junior tight end/wideout and linebacker, has grown in stature, knowledge of the game, and leadership for the team.

“He is bigger, faster and stronger,” Tempalski said.

“With the evolution of the offense and the pass game installed fully, he’s going to take advantage of that more. He’s a weapon, not only as a blocker, but as a pass catcher, too. I know he will truly do some work on some corners.”

Tempalski said the loss of a pair of big and strong offensive linemen in Matt Sovick and Nate Folmer to graduation created some competition to find their replacements.

“The linemen who are coming back and who were there last year understand the steps and the calls and have worked hard to be a better group together,” Tempalski said.

Greensburg Central Catholic enters the season as the defending Eastern Conference champions (6-0). Clairton finished 5-1, Leechburg 4-2, and Jeannette 3-3.

“We went 0-10 last year, so we don’t deserve anything in terms of how teams view us right now. That’s just reality,” Tempalski said.

“These teams are all going to show up expecting to pound us again. We can’t run from that. We have to take that and realize that we have to come out ready to go. That all starts against Ligonier Valley.”

Springdale opens play Friday at home in Week Zero against the Rams who finished 8-4 overall and tied with Serra Catholic for second in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference at 5-2.

“I am so excited for that game because I feel we are going to execute plays and show that we are an improved team from last year,” Tempalski said.

“The guys want to get out there and prove the work in the offseason has made them better.”

Editor’s note: Due to production scheduling conflicts, the preview for Eastern Conference team Frazier will appear later this week.

Springdale

Coach: Ryan Tempalski

2022 record: 0-10, 0-6 in Class A Eastern Conference

All-time record: 425-484-30

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Ligonier Valley, 7

9.1 Northgate, 7

9.9 at Summit Academy, 12:30

9.15 Leechburg*, 7

9.22 at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7

9.29 Union, 7

10.6 Clairton*, 7

10.13 at Frazier*, 7

10.20 Jeannette*, 7

10.28 at Riverview*, noon

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Chase Weihrauch

19-66, 389 yards, 3 TDs

Rushing: Colton Gent*

125-298 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Caleb Gent

7-186 yards, 1 TD

FAST FACTS

• Tempalski said Springdale’s roster is plus-four in terms of numbers from last year.

• This will be the 20th anniversary of Springdale’s WPIAL Class A title. The Dynamos are the last A-K Valley school to bring home gold.

• Springdale scored a season-best 14 points three times last year, against Riverview, Northgate and Summit Academy. The Summit Academy game was the closest point margin at four (18-14).

• The Dynamos were one of eight WPIAL teams to go winless in 2022. The others were Fox Chapel, Ringgold, Seton LaSalle, Derry, Waynesburg, New Brighton and Carlynton.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

2, Colton Gent, RB/DB, 5-10/165, Jr.

3, Noah Skaugen, K, 5-7/150, Jr.

5, Brayden Layhew, RB/LB, 5-10/175, Sr.

6, Dominic Shearer, WR/DB, 5-5/140, So.

8, Caleb Gent, WR/DB, 5-9/160, Jr.

10, Nathan Gebauer, QB/LB, 5-10/160, So.

11, Chase Weihrauch, QB/LB, 6-0/185, Sr.

14, Owen Scheuring, WR/DB, 5-11/140, Sr.

21, Matt Kern, Jr.

22, Clair Schneider, K, 5-5/115, Jr.

25, Noah Bradley, RB/LB, 5-10/175, Sr.

27, Zach Henderson, RB/LB, 5-6/140, Fr.

28, Trevor Clarke, WR/DB, 5-11/250, Fr.

29, RJ Lyandis, WR/DB, 5-8/145, So.

31, Daniel Mamerchol, WR/DB, 5-10/140, So.

32, Landon Richards, WR/LB, 6-1/160, Sr.

39, Brandon Orait, WR/DB, 5-7/135, So.

44, Adam Bradley, RB/LB, 5-9/155, Fr.

50, Andrew Redman, OL/LB, 5-10/180, Fr.

53, Joey Loebig, OL/DL, 5-10/195, So.

55, Noah Robbins, OL/LB, 5-10/210, Jr.

57, Logan Ricci, OL/DL, 5-10/215, Fr.

60, Jonathan Cassidy, OL/DL, 5-7/165, Fr.

62, Austin Murray, OL/DL, 6-1/220, Sr.

68, Nick Martin, OL/DL, 6-0/160, Jr.

71, Giovanni Tommarello, OL/DL, 5-11/230, Sr.

75, Noah Abaray, OL/DL, 5-11/255, Jr.

76, Dante Yungwirth, OL/DL, 6-0/250, Fr.

82, Garrett Myers, TE/LB, 6-1/190, Jr.

84, Collin Hails, RB/LB, 5-6/155, So.

Corey Brooks, WR/DB, 5-10/160, Fr.

Tyler Smart, Fr.

Editor’s note: This roster was updated on Aug. 21.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Springdale