Springdale faces major challenges in rebuilding efforts

By: Michael Love
Monday, August 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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A change at the top could be a piece of the puzzle for a Springdale football program working to get back on track after a pair of tough seasons in and out of conference play.

Springdale went a combined 1-19 in 2023 and 2022, and new coach Chad Walsh seeks to build the program back up in the midst of a host of challenges, including low numbers.

“Numbers are low. That’s no secret,” said Walsh, who turned around a Valley program struggling through a 22-game losing streak when he arrived there in 2012.

“They had about nine or 10 seniors last year. This year, we only have two. About 90% of these kids are going to get their first varsity reps, ever, when that first scrimmage hits. That has been a challenge, getting those numbers up.

“We probably won’t dress more than 18 kids, so obviously, we can’t afford too many injuries. We’re hoping we can get through camp and the scrimmage with no major setbacks. I don’t want to be in a week-to-week scenario where one week we have enough, and one week we don’t.”

Springdale also is in a unique position of not having a home field as the Dynamos are unable to use Veterans Stadium because of structural issues with the facility, Walsh said. Springdale will play two “home” games at Freeport and two others at Burrell.

“It will be tough on the kids knowing they will be on the road every week,” he said.

Walsh said he came on board knowing the athletic administration’s hopes of building the program back up to where it again can challenge for a playoff spot. The Dynamos, with 16 seniors, qualified for the WPIAL playoffs in 2021 and made the quarterfinals.

“It’s close to home, too, as it is only 15 minutes away,” Walsh said. “A couple of people had asked me if I would be interested.”

Walsh took over the team in the spring, about five months removed from Ryan Tempalski stepping down after two years at the helm.

“I didn’t come on until April,” Walsh said. “We had to play a lot of catch-up trying to pull the kids in. It’s a small school, so they play everything. We had baseball players and kids running track. It was a challenge to be able to get everybody together to get things going.”

Once things started to take shape, Walsh said he had a nice core of players coming to workouts.

“We would get a dozen or so kids in and started a weight training program,” Walsh said. “We started getting them stronger right from the beginning. We tried to lift at least twice a week. That continued into the summer as we worked to get things together, install stuff and hit the ground running. It was a lot for them with also learning a new offensive and defensive system and also learning how I and the coaching staff want things done. The season is getting here quick.”

Chase Weihrauch, Springdale’s leading passer and rusher last year, graduated. A number of other key players eligible to return chose not to play football this fall.

Walsh will rely on the experience of the two seniors, offensive linemen Noah Abaray and Noah Robbins, to lead the way.

Joe Loebig, a junior lineman, also will be called upon as an important leader.

Walsh said newcomer Wes Hickman, a sophomore wide receiver and defensive back, came along well in summer workouts.

“We’re looking for some big things out of him this year and for him to get better in the coming years,” Walsh said.

Springdale’s all-road schedule will feature games in the Eastern Conference against annual power Clairton as well as Jeannette, Greensburg Central Catholic, Riverview, Leechburg, Frazier and Brentwood.

Springdale plays all four conference playoff qualifiers — Leechburg, Clairton, GCC and Jeannette — in a row from Sept. 27 to Oct. 18.

“We know what is coming, for sure,” Walsh said. “They are teams who are really well coached with a lot of talent. The thing for us is just trying to go day to day and take the necessary steps. We want to be better today than we were yesterday. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ll do our best to meet each challenge when it comes.”

Springdale

Coach: Chad Walsh

2023 record: 1-9, 0-6 in Class A Eastern Conference

All-time record: 426-493-30

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Burrell, 7

8.30 Chartiers-Houston at Freeport, 7

9.6 at Avella, 7

9.13 Brentwood* at Freeport, 7

9.21 at Riverview*, noon

9.27 at Leechburg*, 7

10.4 Clairton* at Burrell, 7

10.11 Greensburg Central Catholic* at Burrell, 7

10.18 at Jeannette*, 7

10.25 at Frazier*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Chase Weihrauch*

62-164, 958 yards, 14 TDs

Rushing: Weihrauch*

119-722 yards, 5 TDs

Receiving: Colton Gent#

33-617 yards, 9 TDs

*Graduated

#Did not return to team

FAST FACTS

• Springdale’s lone win last year came in Week 2, a 35-21 triumph at Summit Academy. The Dynamos fell to Frazier by just six points and led Riverview by 21 in the finale before the Raiders rallied.

• Walsh led Valley to the 2012 WPIAL playoffs. It was the Vikings’ first trip to the postseason in four years. Valley finished that season 6-4. For his efforts, he was named the 2012 Valley News Dispatch Football Coach of the Year.

• Springdale averaged 18 points on offense last year and gave up 42 a contest.

• The Dynamos’ victory in 2023 helped them avoid a winless fate that fell on six teams last year: Fox Chapel, Ringgold, Charleroi, New Brighton, Summit Academy and Chartiers Houston.

ROSTER

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

2, Daniel Mamerchol, WR/DB, 5-11/137, jr.

3, Noah Skaugen, K, 5-8/170, sr.

5, Corey Brooks, RB/WR/LB, 6-0/160, so.

6, Dominic Shearer, RB, 5-9/170, jr.

8, Wesley Hickman, WR/DB, 6-1/160, so.

10, Nathan Gebauer, QB/DB, 5-10/165, jr.

14, RJ Lyandis, WR/DB, 5-10/140, jr.

15, Trevor Clark, WR/DB/OLB, 6-1/175, so.

22, Clare Schneider, K, 5-8/130, sr.

23, Zach Parison, TE/LB, 5-11/197, fr.

24, Andrew Redman, RB/LB, 5-11/170, so.

25, Zach Henderson, RB/LB, 5-7/170, so.

26, Tyler Smart, RB/LB, 5-10/210, so.

33, Cody Mizak, OL/DL, 6-0/228, fr.

35, Jacob Lang, WR/DB, 5-10/140, fr.

53, Joseph Loebig, OL/DL, 6-0/225, jr.

55, Noah Robbins, LB/OL, 5-10/215, sr.

57, Logan Ricci, OL/DL, 6-0/230, so.

64, Colton Copeland, OL/DL, 6-0/210, fr.

74, Elijah Clements, OL/DL/LB, 5-10/196, fr.

75, Noah Abaray, OL/DL, 5-11/260, sr.

76, Dontae Yungwirth, OL/DL, 6-2/260, so.

84, Collin Hails, RB/LB, 5-5/152, jr.

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