SPRINGDALE REBUILDS
AFTER HEAVY LOSSES
by D.J. VASIL
Seth Napierkowski experienced
success and overcame challenges
last season in his first year as
coach of the Springdale Dynamos.
This year, however, he has to
overcome replacing 17 seniorswho
graduated, a tall order for a coach
at any level, let alone one as small
as Springdale.
“It’s going to be a challenge,”
Napierkowski said. “We only have
three or four seniors on the team
this year. We’re going to be a very
youngteam, but I thinkwe’re going
to be a very talented team.Wehave
a good freshman class coming in,
and some of those guys are going
to (play right away).”
TheDynamosfinished 5-6 overall
and 4-3 in Class A Eastern Conference
play last season, good enough
for a playoff berth, but they lost in
the first round against Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart.
Replacing graduated running
back Josh Harmon seems to be
at the top of Napierkowski’s list.
Harmon rushed for 967 yards and
13 touchdowns last season. He was
also the leading tackler.
Replacing Harmon with one
player might not be an option,
so Napierkowski is opting to go
with a running back-by-committee
approach.
Spearheading the effort is junior
Christian Vokes, a receiver
by trade who is making the move
to running back. Vokes will be
joined by junior Brandon Green
and sophomore Cavin Kindler.
Senior quarterback Josh Jones
is the only returning starter from
JOSH JONES
last seasonwho started every game
on both offense and defense. Jones
will be leaned on more to lead the
offense and alleviate some of the
pressure off some of the younger
players to generate offense.
“He’s going to be looked upon
to be the leader of our team this
year,” Napierkowski said. “He’s
not crazy vocal on the field, but he
leads by example. He’s a guy that
I think we’re going to rely upon to
line up against the other team’s
best receiver. Play some man-toman
against them and be a little
more physical.”
Protecting Jones up front will be
a cast of newplayers as Springdale
graduated its entire offensive line
last season.
Junior Justin Dvorsak is
stepping in at one of the tackle
positions.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Dvorsak
is being counted on to lead the
revamped group.
“In the Springdale tradition, he’s
another beef eater,”Napierkowski
said. “He hit it hard in the weight
room this offseason. We are looking
for big things from him.”
Junior tackle Blake Sgambodi
will be counted on alongside
Dvorsak. The versatile lineman
can play center and guard. Senior
Elijah Lang will man one of the
guard positions.The other remaining
offensive lineman spots are
open to competition, according to
Napierkowski.
Ondefense,Napierkowski is taking
a different approach than last
season.
“I think anytime you’re coaching,
especially at the single-A level,
you have to adapt to your players,”
Napierkowski said.“You can’t really
put a system in place and expect
them to just roll with it. A lot of
times you don’t have the athletes
to do everything you want to do,
and you have to be flexible with
that. We’re going to do that this
year. You’re going to see a fewmore
hybrid guys on the field, kind of
that outside linebacker, safety kind
of build.”
28 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • TRIBUNE-REVIEW
adno=6605003_v6
Voted “Best Place To Buy Tires” 1993-2017 HIGHLAND TIRE www.highlandtire.com
Natrona Heights 724-224-7900 • Tarentum 724-224-9222 • Integrity Alignment 724-224-5900
GOOD LUCK SPRINGDALE!
SCHEDULE
Coach: Seth Napierkowski
2017 record: 5-6, 4-3
All-time record: 405-454-30
Date Opponent Time
9.1 at Imani Christian* 1:30
9.7 at Monessen 7
9.14 Bishop Canevin 7
9.21 at Jeannette* 7
9.28 Greensburg C.C.* 7
10.6 at Northgate noon
10.12 Riverview* 7
10.19 at Clairton* 7
10.26 Leechburg* 7
*CLASS A EASTERN CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Josh Jones
33-91, 654 yards, 8 TDs
Rushing: Josh Harmon*
150-967 yards, 13 TDs
Receiver: Devin Wilks*
8-242 yards, 1 TD
*GRADUATED
Name Pos. Cl.
Legend Ausk QB/DB Fr.
Justin Botinovch RB/DB So.
Dakota Boyce OT/DL So.
Alex Caldwell C/DL So.
Zack Conte RB/DB Jr.
Logan Dexter WR/RB/DB Fr.
Justin Dvorsak OT/DL Jr.
Demitri Fritch WR/DB So.
Brandon Green RB/LB Jr.
Andrew Harmon HB/LB Fr.
Matthew Haus K/P So.
Gage Howard OT/LB Fr.
Zachary Ireland OT/DL So.
Josh Jones QB/DB Sr.
Jake Kaminski OT/DL Fr.
Josh Kaminski OG/DL Fr.
Cavin Kindler RB/LB So.
Ashton Krebs WR/LB Fr.
Elijah Lang G/LB Sr.
Josh Lang HB/LB Jr.
Ricky Martinelli WR/DB Fr.
Hunter Parison WR/LB Sr.
Jorden Puskar WR/DB Sr.
John Ryan OT/DL Fr.
Chris Savko WR/DB Fr.
Gio Savko C/LB Fr.
Blake Sgambati OG/DL Jr.
Ashon Tyree OG/DL So.
Johnny Utiss WR/DB Fr.
Billy Vokes HB/LB Sr.
Christian Vokes RB/DB Jr.
Matthew Yungwirth WR/DB Fr.
Sonny Yungwirth WR/LB Jr.
Ethan Zahner OG/DL Fr.
ROSTER
SETH NAPIERKOWSKI
EASTERN