TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 113
Coach: Seth Napierkowski
2019 record: 6-4, 2-4 in
Class A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 413-466-30
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Riverview* 7
9.19 at Bishop Canevin*# 7
9.25 Leechburg* 7
10.2 at Greensburg C.C.* 7
10.9 Jeannette* 7
10.16 Imani Christian* 7
10.23 at Clairton* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
#AT DORMONT STADIUM
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Dmitri Fritch
30-67, 433 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving John Utiss
5-136 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Christian Vokes*
140-1,106 yards, 19 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Springdale has won eight
of the past 10 meetings with
rival Riverview including last
year by a 33-0 score.
• Napierkowski is 13-18 over
his first three seasons as head
coach of the Dynamos.
• Springdale averaged 27.7
points overall last season and
tallied 36.7 per contest in its
six victories.
• Kinder and Fritch complemented
graduate Christian
Vokes in the running game
last year with a combined 956
yards and four touchdowns
GAGE HOWARD
LOGAN DEXTER
SPRINGDALE EYES
STRONG START TO YEAR
The last shall be first as Springdale
prepares for what it expects to
be a season unlike any other.
When the WPIAL revamped
schedules because of the coronavirus
pandemic, Riverview, the
Dynamos’ chief Class A Eastern
Conference rival, was moved from
the regular-season finale to Sept.
11, the new season-opening date.
“Obviously, whenever we play
them, it’s going to be a big game,”
said Springdale coach Seth Napierkowski,
who guided his team to
a 6-4 record last year.
“It’s probably fitting in a crazy
year like this we would play Riverview
to open the season instead of
at the end. I’m excited for it, and I
know the kids will be pumped up.
They have a new coach over there,
and I know they’re going to want to
make his mark right away against
their biggest rival. It should be a
pretty intense game. ”
Other changes saw the elimination
of Springdale’s Week Zero
game against Deer Lakes.
“It is what it is, and I am happy
they at least came to some resolution
that allows us to have football
this fall,” Napierkowski said. “Despite
the layoff in the spring and
summer, the guys have been working
really hard to get ready for the
season. When we resumed workouts
(in July), they came prepared
mentally and physically as possible.
They did a good job on their own
with more limited resources.
“We’ve put in a couple of new
things on both sides of the ball,
and they’re picking it up. That’s
a testament to their willingness
to learn and the fact that a lot of
these guys are going to be two- and
three-year starters.”
The core of returning talent,
senior quarterback/wide receiver/
defensive back Dmitri Fritch
said, is ready to lead the team to a
playoff spot out of an always-tough
conference that also includes Bishop
Canevin, Clairton, Greensburg
Central Catholic, Imani Christian,
Jeannette and Leechburg.
“We’ve all been working hard on
the field and in the weight room,
and we’re just ready to play,” Fritch
said. “Coach (Napierkowski) told
us to control what we can control.”
Junior quarterback Legend
Ausk is hoping for redemption
after a collarbone injury cost him
the majority of his 2019 season.
“No one ever wants to get injured
and miss time, but I think Legend
was able to sit back and see the
game from a different perspective
and learn some things,” Napierkowski
said. “He came back ready
to learn and get better.”
Napierkowski said Fritch and
senior Cavin Kinder did a good job
stepping in under center last year
under the circumstances, and they
could see time at quarterback in a
few packages.
“They both bring a different element
and are pretty versatile,” Napierkowski
said. “You’ll see Cavin
in the backfield and also the slot.
Fritch will be at receiver and also
at slot with the hopes of taking
advantage of some matchups.”
Napierkowski said juniors John
Utiss (slot/linebacker/safety) and
Logan Dexter (wide receiver/safety)
also return to increased leadership
roles.
The offensive line has experience
with senior Dakota Boyce (guard)
and juniors Gio Savko (center)
and Ethan Zahner (guard). Junior
Gage Howard (guard/tackle) and
sophomore Nathan Folmer (tackle)
also are expected to play a role in
the trenches.
Howard and junior linebacker
Ashton Krebs were among the
team leaders last year in tackles
with 42 and 47, respectively. Howard
added 3½ sacks and recovered
three fumbles.
Kindler, from his linebacker
spot, led the Dynamos in tackles
(84) and added three sacks and
an interception. Fritch picked off
four passes and added 38 tackles.
“I love the chemistry on this
team,” Fritch said. “We all like to
joke around, but when it comes
down to practice or a game, we’re
serious about getting the job done.”
Savko and junior Andrew Harmon
also will battle for time at
linebacker. Napierkowski said he’s
excited to have lineman Ashon
Tyree back in the fold after not
playing the past two years.
“He played his freshman year
and then had some injuries,” Napierkowski
said. “By the end of the
year, he started at defensive tackle
in the playoff game against OLSH.
I think he can be a real difference
maker for us.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
EASTERN • SPRINGDALE