Capital (ID) football: Denis Popudnik feature

On Monday, Feb. 27, I interviewed Capital (Idaho) RB/DB Denis Popudnik. The article below will go in the 2011 Capital football yearbook, which is almost completed. Popudnik is a special talent but is unlikely to play at the college level unless Boise State notices him walking around its campus next fall.

Denis
Popudnik:

Hard-hitting back led by example
and gave Eagles a two-way player

By Bruce Smith
Matchup

Denis Popudnik wasn’t your average running back. He wasn’t your basic defensive back either. In fact, little about Popudnik was normal.

His family from the Ukraine to the United States when Popudnik was 7 years old. They settled in Boise because they had friends here. Popudnik arrived as a soccer player, but it didn’t take long for him to get involved in America’s brand of football.

As a senior at Capital, he was one of just two returning defensive starters. However, his hard-hitting abilities also proved useful as a running back. He ended being up being a leader on both sides of the ball. He was Capital’s second-leading rusher and easily led the team in scoring with 17 touchdowns. On defense, he made the all-state team.

“He was the heart-and-soul of our team,” said coach Todd Simis. He stayed healthy on both sides of the ball.

Popudnik also earned Capital’s team MVP award. Simis said he was a good choice.

“Where would we have been without him?” he said.

On the other hand, where would Popudnik be without Capital?

Football made Popudnik a star. After moving from the Hillside area to Lake Hazel in junior high, he figured he would go to Borah, but transferred to Capital as a sophomore.

“I went to Capital because I knew they had a good football program,” he said. “It ended up being a good move.”

As a junior, Popudnik was part of a special group of four players who were originally from Eastern Europe. They were called “The Foreigners,” and helped the Eagles to the 5A state semifinals. The other three – Ali Sabetian, Timofey Rezanovich and Muamer Hasanovic – graduated last year.

Popudnik kept going, and Capital used his talents on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

“I was on the field a lot,” he said. “My mother couldn’t stand to watch me play because she thought I might get hurt. She would come early, take pictures and then leave. But I stayed pretty healthy.”

Instead, it was the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Ukrainian who was dealing the punishment.

He carried the ball just 91 times as a senior, but averaged 6.5 yards per carry. What made him special was not was he fast enough to run by people, but also run through them.

On defense, he was the second-leading tackler and dished out big hits. He also had two interceptions, one which he returned for a touchdown (against Boise).

Popudnik said he was almost always one of the smaller guys on the football field. He praised Capital’s weight-training program for getting him into shape.

“Our weight program at our school is amazing,” he said. “No other school, I guarantee, works out as much as the Capital football team. I remember last year, as soon as we lost (the final game) to Coeur d’Alene, the next Monday were all in the weight room. I got my max pretty high. That gave me the power to run over people.”

Popudnik said his favorite games came against Eagle and Timberline. He carried the ball 10 times for 56 yards against Eagle, but scored three touchdowns, including an 11-yarder late in the game to give Capital the lead.

He had 183 yards and three scores against Timberline. His final touchdown was a 35-yarder that clinched the 38-27 victory. While he had several long runs, Popudnik said he knew he would get the ball when Capital needed a few yards.

“I really loved our ‘jumbo’ package,” he said. “That was smash-mouth football and my job was to get the ball and not stop until I got into the end zone. Short yardage was our specialty. If we had a short-yardage play, they would put in the ‘jumbo’ package and it was always a first down from there.”

Popudnik’s big plays always resulted in a big cheer from the crowd. He was obviously a fan favorite and was named the school’s “homecoming king.” Unlike most normal kings, however, Popudnik didn’t attend the dance.

When football ended, Popudnik decided to play another physical sport – rugby. After graduation, his family wants him to stay close so he intends to enroll at Boise State.

As for football? We’ll see if BSU’s coaches recognize him walking around its campus and ask him to try out.