Vokes hopes to use strength, speed to lift Springdale to success

By: George Guido
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 7:23 PM

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After missing the WPIAL playoffs for just the second time in 17 seasons last year, the Springdale Dynamos are set to make a 2019 drive toward the postseason.

One of nine returnees on offense is senior running back Christian Vokes, who missed several games last season with an injury, Vokes is healthy and ready to take on a major role.

“As long as we can communicate and do what we’ve been taught, we can make good things happen,” Vokes said. “We only lost three people, two were starters, so we have almost the exact team coming back. We’re all working together pretty well and with all the people coming back, I think it will make a big difference.”

The Dynamos were 0-6 in conference play, 2-8 overall. The lone victories were against Northgate at midseason and Vincentian Academy in a Week 10 game.

Vokes was injured in the Oct. 6 Northgate game but managed to come back several weeks later. He carried for 377 yards, including 66 against Vincentian.

“Christian’s a big part of our team,” Springdale coach Seth Napierkowski said. “He put a lot of work in during the offseason and got himself stronger and also is one of the fastest kids on the team.”

Brief communication will be vital in huddle and on the sidelines, since most of Springdale’s players will be going both ways and rarely coming off the field.

“The things we see on the field, we definitely talk to the coaches about it,” Vokes said. “It might be some things they can’t see from the sidelines and up in the booth. I try to keep the huddles calm. If people start arguing, that’s when things go south.”

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Vokes is prepared for a larger workload in 2019.

“Even though he’s on the smaller side, he’s strong carrying the ball,” Napierkowski said. “He’s shifty and he’s tough to take down. He’s going to get a lot of carries for us this year.”

Napierkowski indicated that he could see up to “25 or 30 carries a game.”

Added Napierkowski: “In high school football, you don’t necessarily have to be the biggest guy as long as you understand what your responsibilities are.”

Among the linemen in charge of providing the holes for Vokes include four returnees. The two tackles are all-Eastern Conference performer Blake Sgambati (5-9, 240) and Justin Dvorsak (6-4, 315).

Conference honorable mention Gio Savko will be the center.

Guards are Dakota Boyce and Ethan Zahner while the tight ends are Ashton Krebs and Josh Lang.

Despite having only one scrimmage, Vokes and his teammates will be ready to go Friday at home against Deer Lakes. Although the two schools haven’t played football since 1993, Vokes is happy to be opening against a geographic rival.

“I’m glad we’re playing Deer Lakes,” Vokes said. “We played them when I was in the Allegheny Valley (youth association), and I think this will be a good test for us as to how our season’s going to be. They’re a lot bigger than us and have a lot more people than us. But I think our athletes can compete with them.”

After graduation next spring, Vokes hopes to continue his football career in college.

Tags: Springdale